As the Arab women use henna juice to redden their palms and soles, so the egg-plant is used to blacken the teeth of
women in Japan, but for a different purpose.
Whereas the henna stains are regarded as beautiful, the blackenedteeth are a confessed disfigurement.
Tradition says that the custom arose from the wish of a handsome young wife to cure her husband of a causeless jealousy.
The color is obtained by dropping peel of egg-plant into water that contains a red-hot iron. After applying it to the teeth,
they are brushed till they shine like metal. The practice was continued until the empress appeared in public with
white teeth, when society in Tokyo dutifully followed her example. Among the commoners, however, the use of toothdye
is continued to a considerable extent.
The variety of egg-plant known as the apple of Sodom, or Dead Sea fruit, is often pierced by an insect, whose sting
has the effect of shrivelling it and converting its inside to bitter dust. The name of Dead Sea apple, however, is
applied to a gall nut, like that borne on our oaks, which also results from the stings of insects.
The true egg-plant which bears that name because of its shape, and not for its flavor, was anciently believed to be a poison, especially to wits, wherefore it had the names of raging apple and mad apple.
women in Japan, but for a different purpose.
Whereas the henna stains are regarded as beautiful, the blackenedteeth are a confessed disfigurement.
Tradition says that the custom arose from the wish of a handsome young wife to cure her husband of a causeless jealousy.
The color is obtained by dropping peel of egg-plant into water that contains a red-hot iron. After applying it to the teeth,
they are brushed till they shine like metal. The practice was continued until the empress appeared in public with
white teeth, when society in Tokyo dutifully followed her example. Among the commoners, however, the use of toothdye
is continued to a considerable extent.
The variety of egg-plant known as the apple of Sodom, or Dead Sea fruit, is often pierced by an insect, whose sting
has the effect of shrivelling it and converting its inside to bitter dust. The name of Dead Sea apple, however, is
applied to a gall nut, like that borne on our oaks, which also results from the stings of insects.
The true egg-plant which bears that name because of its shape, and not for its flavor, was anciently believed to be a poison, especially to wits, wherefore it had the names of raging apple and mad apple.