Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 July 1907 — Funny Toothache Cures. [ARTICLE]

Funny Toothache Cures.

Before the days of dentists and when people generally believed in the value of charms there were ever so many mysterious ways of preventing toothache. One of these was to dress the right side of the body first—right stocking, right shoe, right sleeve, right glove. A favorite plan In Scotland was to draw a tooth, salt it well and bum it in full view on glowing coals. In Cornwall many save their teeth by biting the first young fems that appear. The custom of catching a common ground mole, cutting off the paws while the little creature still lives and wearing them is traced to Staffordshire, England. Some people who are fond of exercise believe that walking twelve miles—no more, no less—to get a splinter of the toothache tree will drive away the worst ache and pain that ever tortured a poor tooth. The belief that toothache is caused by a worm at the roots is prevalent In many parts of the world; hence this cure: Reduce several different kinds of herbs—the greater variety the better—to a powder. Put a glowing cinder into this powder and inhale the incense. Afterward breathe into a cup of water and the worm will be gone forever.