Eolas
An Deididh [126] Toothache Charm
The teeth of ancient
human skeletons found in stone coffins and other enclosures, and without enclosures,
are usually good and complete. This is in marked contrast to the teeth of modern
human remains, which are generally much impaired if not wholly absent. But there
must have been toothache and even artificial teeth in ancient times, as
indicated by the mummies in Egypt and the toothache charms and toothache wells in
the Highlands. One toothache charm and one toothache well must suffice to illustrate
this. The toothache well is in the island of North Uist. It is situated 195 feet
above the sea, at the foot of a hill 757 feet high, and nearly three miles in the
moorland from the nearest townland. The place is called 'Cluidh-airidh,' shieling
fold, while the well is variously known as 'Tobar Chuidh-airidh,' well of the shieling
fold, 'Tobar an deididh,' well of the toothache, 'Tobar na cnoidh,' well of the
worm, and 'Tobar cnuimh fhiacail,' well of the tooth worm, from a belief that toothache
is caused by a worm in the tooth.
The general name of
the well is 'Tobar Chuidh-airidh,' well of the shieling fold, to distinguish it
from other healing wells throughout the Isles. The pilgrim suffering from toothache
must not speak, nor eat, nor drink, after beginning the pilgrimage, till after
three draughts of the well of Cuidh-airidh are drunk in name of God, and in name
of Christ, and in name of Spirit.
Some persons profess
to derive no relief, some profess to derive partial relief, and some profess to
derive complete relief from toothache after drinking the water of the well of
Cuidh-airidh.
TOOTHACHE
CHARM
The
incantation put by lovely Bride
Before
the thumb of the Mother of God,
On
lint, on wort, on hemp.
For
worm, for venom, for teeth.
The
worm that tortured me.
In
the teeth of my head,
Hell
hard by my teeth,
The
teeth of hell distressing me.
************************
The
teeth of hell close to me;
As
long as I myself shall last
May
my teeth last in my head.
Variants—
On
lint, on comb, on agony.
On
sea, on ocean, on coast.
On water, on lakes, on marshes
[Incantation or prayer.]
Carmina Gadelica – Hymns and Incantations
Vol. II, ed. Alexander Carmichael (1900), pg. 10-11.
Image: "A broken upper front tooth showing the pink of the pulp," by James Heilman, MD This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.
