在19世纪以前，人们想要拔牙或者进行牙科手术是非常痛苦和危险的事情。因为在当时的环境下，不仅没有麻药，拔牙工具简陋，而且操作牙科手术的人也都不是专业的牙医。所以很早之前各国的牙科医生们就不约而同地提出过一些预防牙病的方法：饭后剔牙、经常漱口、使用牙粉和刷牙等。可以说，人类已经和牙病斗争了几千年了。
而且，这种“相互伤害”的过程还清楚地被一个展览给纪录了下来。位于英国伦敦的韦尔科姆收藏馆（Wellcome Collection）专门策划了一个医疗与艺术相结合的展览，并于5月17日开始展出。
此次展览展出了与牙齿相关的上百件展品，探索了有史以来人类及其牙齿之间的关系是如何发展的，同时还展示了用来宣传牙齿卫生的海报是怎么跟含糖零食的广告作斗争的。
本篇课程选自 The Economist Espresso APP
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Chew on this: teeth
① Before the advent of modern dentistry in the 19th and 20th centuries, procedures were performed by barber-surgeons, blacksmiths and even fairground entertainers.
② Extractions without anaesthetic were gruesome, so people tried alternative methods to alleviate toothache.
③ Votive offerings, amulets and prayers to St Apollonia, the patron saint of toothache, were all thought to protect pearly whites.
④ An exhibition which opens on Thursday at the Wellcome Collection in London will explore our relationship with our teeth throughout history.
⑤ The show will display examples of these ancient offerings alongside objects that chart the development of our understanding of dental care, from Napoleon's silver toothbrush to King William IV's dentures.
⑥ Though dentistry has come a long way over the past couple of centuries, gnashers still need looking after: the exhibition will also show how posters used to publicise dental hygiene compete with adverts for sugary snacks.
⑦ There's plenty to get your teeth stuck into.
网站推荐
https://wellcomecollection.org/exhibitions/WgV_ACUAAIu2P_ZM
▍生词好句
chew on sth. /tʃuː/: 花时间反复思考某事
advent /ˈædvənt/: n. 到来；出现
dentistry /ˈdentɪstri/: n. 牙科学；牙医业
barber-surgeon: n. (旧时) 兼作外科医师和牙医的理发师
blacksmith /ˈblæksmɪθ/: n. 铁匠
fairground entertainer: 露天市场的表演艺人
extraction /ɪkˈstrækʃən/: n. 拔牙；取出
anaesthetic /ˌænɪsˈθetɪk, ˌænəsˈθet̬ɪk/: n. 麻药
gruesome /ˈɡru:səm/: adj. 可怕的
alleviate /əˈli:vɪeɪt/: vt. 缓解；缓和
offering /ˈɒfərɪŋ, ˈɑːfərɪŋ/: n. 物品；娱乐大众的项目
votive offering /ˈvəʊtɪv/: 祈愿供品
amulet /ˈæmjʊlɪt, ˈæmjələt/: n. 护身符
patron saint of /ˈpeɪtrən/: ……的守护神
pearly white /ˈpə:li, ˈpə:rli/: 牙齿
chart /tʃɑːt, tʃɑːrt/: vt. 记录；跟踪……的发展 n. 图表；图纸
denture /ˈdentʃə, ˈdentʃər/: n. 假牙
have come a long way: 已经经历了很多/取得了很大的进步
gnashers /ˈnæʃəz, ˈnæʃərz/: n. (复数) 牙齿
sth. needs doing: 某物需要被……
publicise /ˈpʌblɪsʌɪz/: vt. 宣传
advert for /ˈædvə:t, ˈædvə:rt/: ……的广告
get one's teeth into sth.: 全身心投入……
▍补充
1. chew on something
There are three things to chew on.
David likes to have some difficult matter to chew on.
2. advent
Advent is the arrival of a notable person or thing.
the advent of television
the advent of computer
With the advent of WeChat, we spend more and more time on our cells.
3. gruesome
Come on, spare me the gruesome details.
4. alleviate
a new medicine to alleviate the symptoms of flu
5. 祷告词
O Glorious Apollonia, patron saint of dentistry and refuge to all those suffering from diseases of teeth, I consecrate myself to thee … (完整版请参考图1)
6. have come a long way
Don't give up (now), we have come such a long way.
7. something needs doing
The plant needs watering.
8. get one's teeth into something
Since you know about the project so well, now get your teeth into it.