The Horrors Of The Tooth Worm
A French carving, pharm dating from the 1700s, designed to look like a human molar. At 10.5 centimeters in height it depicts inside its two halves, “The tooth worm as Hell’s demon” an explanation of the toothache as a battle occurring with the mythical tooth worm. The legend of the tooth worm apparently dates back to 1800 BC Mesopotamia and even has its own creation myth:
“When Anu created the Sky,
the Sky created the Rivers,
The Rivers created the Valleys,
the Valleys created the Swamps,
the Swamps created the Worm,
the Worm went to Samas and wept.
His tears flowed before Ea.
“What will you give me to eat, what will you give me to such?”
“I’ll give you a ripe fig, apricots and apple juice.”
“What use are a ripe fig,
an apricot and apple juice to me?
Lift me up! Let me dwell ‘twixt teeth and gum!
I’ll suck the blood from the teeth
and gnaw the roots in their gums.”
“Because you have said this, O Worm, may
Ea sink you with his mighty hand!”
The idea of a tooth worm was finally put to scientific scrutiny in the late 18th century by both Pierre Fauchard — “the father of modern dentistry” — and Philip Pfaff — who was dentist to Frederick the Great of Prussia. Pfaff seemed loathe to totally commit to such a position however (or was, in fact, a wonderfully sarcastic man), writing that, while he himself had never personally come across a tooth worm, he did not wish “to dispute the observations of learned doctors.”
via Honeyed : WurzelTumblr
January 20th, 2010 at 2:17 pm
Makes me think of the Ren and Stimpy episode where Stimpy explains the legend of the Tooth Beaver. Looked for a clip but turned up nothing :(
January 20th, 2010 at 2:27 pm
I just got back from the dentist, and all I can say is that I almost wish I could have something as awesome as this goin on in one of my teeth instead of the boring old usual tooth issues!
January 21st, 2010 at 4:03 am
@life_inc: You’re probably thinking of the “Rens toothache” episode:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yO2eoNEiVn0
January 21st, 2010 at 9:04 pm
The imagery of that episode has haunted me since childhood and will continue to do so for some time, I’m sure…
January 21st, 2010 at 10:07 pm
[…] Coilhouse » Blog Archive » The Horrors Of The Tooth Worm A French carving, dating from the 1700s, designed to look like a human molar. At 10.5 centimeters in height it depicts inside its two halves, “The tooth worm as Hell’s demon” an explanation of the toothache as a battle occurring with the mythical tooth worm. The legend of the tooth worm apparently dates back to 1800 BC Mesopotamia and even has its own creation myth (tags: Mythology Anatomy) […]
March 3rd, 2010 at 1:40 am
[…] The horrors of the tooth worm Published March 3, 2010 sculpture Leave a Comment A French carving, dating from the 1700s, designed to look like a human molar. At 10.5 centimeters in height it depicts inside its two halves, “The tooth worm as Hell’s demon” an explanation of the toothache as a battle occurring with the mythical tooth worm. Via […]