Undergraduate Research at the Folger: Pain in the Teeth

What items did you choose to look at in the Reading Room? Why? 

My research focused on early modern dentistry and its connection to Shakespeare. As I was scrolling through the online catalog, I stumbled upon A treatise of cleanness… to which is added a short discourse of the pain in the teeth… (Folger T3196). This book by Thomas Tryon is a perfect view into what early modern physicians considered dental hygiene. In my final paper, I touched upon Tryon’s theory of the origins of dental and gum illness and the correct treatments for said illnesses. It was incredibly interesting to see his train of thought and techniques he used. I also viewed a drawing by Felix Darley (ART Box D221 no.6). The drawing is a depiction of a paraphrased quote from Shakespeare’s play, As You Like It, highlighting the life cycle of man. The final stage of life is “sans eyes, sans teeth, sans everything” (sans is French for without). I chose this drawing not only because it included a quote from the Bard, but also because it illustrates the linkage between liveliness and morality using teeth.

What surprised you about doing research with the Folger collections? 

I was first shocked by the beauty of the Reading Room; the architecture is gorgeous. There were a vast amount of resources available for those interested in any topic imaginable. Some of my classmates did research on medicine, while others focused on swords. Prior to my final paper, I used the resources to study the history of botany. The fact that all these various topics were able to be studied at the Folger Library shows the wide scope of Shakespeare’s works. I was also impressed by the knowledge of the librarians; it’s almost as if they were walking encyclopedias. I did not expect them to be so immersed in the process. I haven’t encountered such expertise at other libraries, so it was refreshing to experience. As for the materials, I did not expect some books to be so preserved, yet so aged. As I flipped the pages, I thought about the journey of each book and all the hands that had touched it before. Some books have been eaten away by bookworms. Others are stained with tears, ink, coffee, and whatnot. Despite that, the books are still so well maintained.  

What did you learn from consulting collection items in-person versus using digital resources? 

I was able to put certain items into perspective and read early modern English more efficiently when in person compared to when I was looking online. I looked at a cookery and medicinal book belonging to one Mrs. Lansdown (272056 MS) and I was astonished by the size of the book; it was probably the length of my shoulders to my hip. The actual measurements are 42 x 18 cm, which I think is pretty large for a cookery book. I would have never noticed how massive this book was had I only looked at it online. The size informed me that the cookery book was designed to stay indoors, a tidbit of information I would not have known had I done my research from my campus library.   

What is something interesting that you learned from your research? 

I vividly remember a line from Tryon’s book claiming that everyone must wash their mouths with water, as water is the purest substance in the world. Another hypothesis he had was that gum disease is due to breathing stomach acid. Tryon used the same reasoning to explain why some individuals have better smelling breath and better hygiene than others — some people have upset stomachs, while others don’t. I think reading it in person also helped with my retention of these snippets of information.  

Final thoughts? 

When I originally enrolled at GW, I was a political science major. I, like many people here, wanted to go into law and study the Constitution. A few months into my first semester, I started exploring other career paths. On a whim, I set my eyes on dentistry. As part of my final project, I figured I would look into the field more to see if I was truly interested in it and it turns out I am. I wouldn’t say this class made me change majors or my career path, but I think it’s played a role in guiding me towards where my passion lies.