文：黃郁芩醫師

暑假來臨，你有什麼計畫呢？黃醫師特別幫大家挑選了一本英文圖書 – 「You Wouldn’t Want to Live Without Dentists！」(你不會想活在沒有牙醫的世界)，讓大家一起來聽故事！

現在的理髮師、鐵匠，這兩個職業，應該沒有人會想到以前牙齒痛要拔牙，竟是要求助他們耶？！讓我們繼續看下去…

英文原文：

Blacksmith or Barber-Surgeon?

Lt’s travel forward in time to Europe between around 1000 and 1600 CE. If you lived in a city, you could consult a doctor. He’s give advice on tooth cleaning, polishing, and whitening, and try to fill cavities. He’d examine your tongue, and put poultices(hot herbs) on infected gums. He might even offer medicines promising to make rotten teeth fall out painlessly. But beware these are mixed from lizard crushed with beetles.

Oh, you live in the countryside? Then you’ll have to go to the blacksmith, or wait for a traveling tooth-puller to visit your village fair. He(or she) will tie a string around your rotten tooth, then pull very hard!

IRON MEN. Blacksmiths have strong, heavy pincers, designed to hold red-hot iron horseshoes. These might also come in handy for pulling teeth. Are you ready?

FAITH HEALING. St. Apollonia, a Christian leader from North Africa, was martyred(killed because of her faith) in 249 CE. Before she died, enemies pulled out all her teeth. For hundreds of years afterward, Christians believed that Apollonia could cure toothaches.

ON YOUR WAY TO TOWN? If you’re a man, pop in to see your nearest barber-surgeon. He’ll cut your hair, trim your beard, shave your whiskers, set your broken bones, cut off any damaged limbs – and pull out your teeth. You might even meet a friend there. A barbershop is a great place for gossip.

Top Tip:

Need to get rid of a rotten tooth, but you’re scared? Then listen to the tooth-puller’s drum! Its pounding beat will drive all thoughts and fears from your mind – and drown out your cries of pain.

Right picture: Don’t worry, I’ve got it! Aaaaargh~

Left picture: What can I do for you, sir? Need a tooth pulled, shave, haircut?