While working on my toothpaste project, I found that clay was used in tooth washes. It seemed odd to me that clay would have been used, but doing some research I found that the particular clay mentioned, Armenian Bole, is a clay that has been used throughout period for medicinal purposes. It is mentioned in at least two different tooth cleaning recipes. Because it had been my intention to recreate these tooth cleaning items and allow people to try them, I needed to research the components carefully to ensure that they were not harmful.
The other ingredients were found to be harmless, as they included vinegar, honey, tarragon, alum and gum mastic. These are all items we consume in our modern lives.
It was Armenian bole that puzzled me. I’m no chemist, so I asked one, who pulled up an interesting article for me from a chemistry journal in which Armenian bole was being tested. Findings stated that this clay has heavy metals, which can be harmful if ingested. I cannot find the link to the article in my notes, but will edit this post to include it when I do locate it. I also found an interesting note in the Pharmaceutical Journal, Volume 80 published in 1908 in which they state “Armenian bole is an argillaceous earth containing a variable amount of ferric oxide…Armenian bole, which is usually made by mixing pipe-clay or common chalk with oxide of iron or red ochre. The mixture, of which you send the formula, is, in our opinion, a very bad one…It is objectionable on the account of the impurities that may be introduced by the use of such an indefinite substance as Armenian bole, and also on account of the tincture of opium it contacts. We advise you omit the latter and substitute for the bole hydrated oxide of iron, using only half the quantity specified.”
Ferric Oxide Hydrate, which is what the Pharmaceutical Journal recommends in its place. Hydrated ferric oxide (H2Fe2O4) appears to be rust. I’m continuing my research into this.
In the meantime, I found another clay that is used today in toothpaste; bentonite clay. This is commonly used medicinally today in a myriad of ways. I’m continuing the research on this to see if it is a feasible substitute for the tooth wash for people to test.
So, my plan has modified slightly. There will be tooth washes and powders to test, and ones that use the period ingredients which can be looked at but not tested.
It has been a lot of fun researching a topic with a wealth of period sources. My last project had little primary documentation, and the other sources I found proved to be full of conjecture. Having a variety of primary sources is exciting.