Arsenic is used by him not only for the above-mentioned purpose, but also for the cure of fistulas and foul ulcers of the gums.
When a tooth has become abnormally long, Avicenna makes use of the file to reduce it to a proper size; and in performing such an operation, he holds the tooth firmly between the fingers, or with a pair of pincers suited for the purpose. As a consecutive treatment, he prescribes frictions with alum, laurel berries, and aristolochia.[205]
Abulcasis. Among the Arabian authors, he who has the greatest importance in regard to dental art is undoubtedly Abulcasis (Abul-Casem-chalaf-ben-Abbas). Whilst Avicenna was one of the greatest physicians, Abulcasis was one of the greatest surgeons; and very justly he has been called the genius of Arabian surgery.
Abulcasis had his birthplace in Alzahra, a small Spanish village, five miles from Cordova; from this he derived the name of Alzaravius, by which he is also known. Historians are not agreed upon the date of his birth. According to the most probable opinion, he was born about the year 1050 and died in 1122 at Cordova, a city which, on account of its celebrated school, was then a most important centre of scientific and literary culture.
Among the works of Abulcasis, the one which brought him the greatest fame was the treatise De Chirurgia. It is divided into three books, in the first of which he speaks of all the diseases which can be treated by cauterization; in the second are described all the operations which are performed by cutting, perforating, or extracting (wherefore, obstetrics is also included in this book); in the third, lastly, the author treats, region by region, of fractures and luxations.
Chapters XIX, XX, and XXI of the first book have reference to diseases of the teeth and gums. As these chapters are very short, we are pleased to give here an almost literal translation of them:
“When in the lower part of the gums, or in the palate, there appears a little tumor, which afterward becomes purulent and opens and changes into a fistula, against which no medical remedy is of any use, it is necessary for thee to take a cautery corresponding in size to the aperture of the fistula, and after having heated it, to introduce it there and to keep it applied there until the cauterizing iron reaches the bottom of the said fistula and beyond. This thou shalt do once or twice, and then shalt use fitting medicaments until a complete cure is obtained. This is attained when suppuration ceases. Otherwise one cannot do less than uncover the bone and extract that part of it which is diseased.”[206]
“When through excess of moisture the gums become flaccid, the teeth loose, and of no use are the remedies employed by thee, thou shalt lay the patient’s head on thy lap, and after having applied to the tooth, where it borders on the gum, the end of an appropriate little metal tube, in this thou shalt quickly introduce the cautery of which mention will be made in the following chapter; and thou shalt prolong the application as long as suffices to let the patient feel the heat right in the root of the tooth. This thou shalt repeat as often as thou shalt think necessary. Then the patient shall keep salt water in the mouth for an hour. By effect of such a cure, the corrupted moisture will dry up, the gums will regain their tone, and the tooth its firmness.”[207]
“When toothache depends upon cold, or if there exist some worm in the tooth, and the medicaments are of no use, recourse must be made to cauterization, which in such cases may be performed in two ways, viz., either by means of butter or with a cautery. Desiring to use butter, some of it must be warmed in an iron or copper spoon; a little cotton must then be wrapped around the extremity of a probe, dipped into the boiling butter, and then immediately applied to the tooth, keeping it there in contact until it has cooled. This must be repeated several times, so that the action of the heat reaches right down to the root of the tooth. If thou preferest, thou canst use cold butter, applied to the aching tooth by means of a little tuft of wool or cotton, upon which thou shalt lay a red-hot iron; prolonging the application of this until the heat has reached the very root of the tooth.
“To perform the cauterization directly with the iron, thou must first rest on the tooth a small tube of iron or copper, designed to preserve the neighboring parts from the action of the heat, and which must, therefore, be of sufficient thickness. Through such a tube thou shalt apply on the tooth a cautery of the shape given here below, and shalt keep it there until it is cooled. This thou shalt do several times. The pain will cease the same day or on the morrow. It is, however, necessary that after the cauterization the patient should keep his mouth, for an hour, full of good butter. The shape of the cautery is as follows (Fig. [34]): Thou canst perform the cauterization with one or other of its two extremities, as is most convenient.”[208]