The Natural History of Pliny, Volume 3 (of 6)Pliny, the Elder
History
The Natural History of Pliny, Volume 3 (of 6)
Pliny, the Elder
Natural history -- Pre-Linnean works
The other animals are born with[233] teeth, whereas man has them only
at the seventh[234] month after his birth. While other[235] animals
keep their teeth to the time of their death, man, the lion, the beasts
of burden, the dog, and the ruminating animals, all change them; the
lion and the dog, however, change none[236] but the canine teeth. The
canine tooth of the wolf, on the right side, is held in high esteem
as an amulet.[237] There is no animal that changes the maxillary
teeth, which stand beyond the canine teeth. With man, the last teeth,
which are known as the “genuini,” or cheek teeth,[238] come about the
twentieth year, and with many men, and females as well, so late even as
the eightieth; but this only in the case of those who have not had them
in their youth. It is a well-known fact, that the teeth are sometimes
shed in old age, and replaced by others. Mucianus has stated that he,
himself, saw one Zocles, a native of Samothrace, who had a new set of
teeth when he was past his one hundred and fourth year. In addition
to these facts, in man males have more teeth than females,[239] which
is the case also in sheep, goats, and swine. Timarchus, the son of
Nicocles the Paphian, had a double[240] row of teeth in his jaws: the
same person had a brother also who never changed his front teeth, and,
consequently, wore them to the very stumps. There is an instance,
also, of a man having a tooth growing in the palate.[241] The canine
teeth,[242] when lost by any accident, are never known to come again.
While in all other animals the teeth grow of a tawny colour with old
age, with the horse, and him only, they become whiter the older he
grows.
CHAP. 64.—HOW AN ESTIMATE IS FORMED OF THE AGE OF ANIMALS FROM THEIR
TEETH.
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