history of medicine in ancient egypt assist.prof.dr. mehmet karataŞ department of history of...

History of Medicine in Ancient History of Medicine in Ancient EgyptEgypt

Assist.Prof.Dr. Mehmet KARATAŞAssist.Prof.Dr. Mehmet KARATAŞ

Department of History of Medicine and EthicsDepartment of History of Medicine and Ethics

Ancient EgyptAncient Egyptian Civilizationian Civilization

The period between about 3100 BC when The period between about 3100 BC when dynastic period begdynastic period begaan and 332 BC when n and 332 BC when Egyptian independence was brought to an Egyptian independence was brought to an end end withwith the conquest of the conquest of Egypt by Egypt by Alexander the Great is normally referred Alexander the Great is normally referred as as the the Ancient EgyptAncient Egyptian Civilizationian Civilization..

Ancient EgyptAncient Egyptian Civilizationian Civilization

Ancient Egyptians worshipped numerous Ancient Egyptians worshipped numerous Gods. Most of the Gods had animal or Gods. Most of the Gods had animal or partly animal forms. Animal worship is a partly animal forms. Animal worship is a tradition of Egyptian beliefs as well. Magic tradition of Egyptian beliefs as well. Magic played an important role in daily life.played an important role in daily life.

Medical PapyrusesMedical Papyruses Medical papyruses Medical papyruses ((or papyrior papyri) ) are one of the are one of the

most important sources of information about most important sources of information about medicine in ancient Egypt. Some of the medicine in ancient Egypt. Some of the important medical papyri are as follows:important medical papyri are as follows:

EdwinEdwin SmithSmith Papyrus Papyrus 1550 BC1550 BC surgical, and mainly traumasurgical, and mainly trauma

Edwin Smith papyrus gives information Edwin Smith papyrus gives information about injuries and wounds, their prognosis about injuries and wounds, their prognosis and treatment. and treatment.

Medical PapyrusesMedical Papyruses

EbersEbers Papyrus Papyrus ((1500 BC1500 BC)) GGeneraleneral information information, mainly medical, mainly medical, includes , includes various diseases, drug descriptions. Itvarious diseases, drug descriptions. It covers covers diseases of the abdomen, eyes, and skin. Lists diseases of the abdomen, eyes, and skin. Lists cough treatments and lists herb, mineral and cough treatments and lists herb, mineral and animal remedies. animal remedies.

KahunKahun Papyrus Papyrus ((1820 BC1820 BC)) GGynecologicalynecological information. information. It It deals with animal deals with animal

medicine and gynecology including contraception.medicine and gynecology including contraception.

HearstHearst Papyrus Papyrus ((1450 BC1450 BC))GGeneral mediceneral medicineine

MuMummmificationmification

Egyptians believed that the preservation Egyptians believed that the preservation of physical aspects of life on earth was of physical aspects of life on earth was essential for life in thereafter. This concept essential for life in thereafter. This concept was the basis of muwas the basis of mummmification. mification. Complicating embalming techniques were Complicating embalming techniques were developed to preserve the dead body developed to preserve the dead body according to the religious belief of life according to the religious belief of life after death.after death.


AlthoughAlthough mu mummmification of human being mification of human being and animals existand animals existed fored for thousands of thousands of years, the anatomical knowledge of the years, the anatomical knowledge of the Egyptians were very superficial. Egyptians were very superficial.

TThey openhey openeded the human body during the human body during mummificationmummification, but, but they misunderst they misunderstooood d and misinterpretand misinterpreteded what they saw what they saw,, bbecause the aim of muecause the aim of mummmification was a mification was a part of religious ritual more than to have part of religious ritual more than to have some knowledge about a human body. some knowledge about a human body.


There was no connection between the There was no connection between the medical profession with the embalmers in medical profession with the embalmers in ancient Egypt. ancient Egypt. SinceSince they believe they believedd th thatat the soul the soul was seatedwas seated in heart, they left it in in heart, they left it in its place.its place.

Medicine in Ancient EgyptMedicine in Ancient Egypt

Diseases prevalent Diseases prevalent inin Ancient EgyptAncient EgyptA nA number of diseases umber of diseases can be well identified can be well identified from descriptions in from descriptions in papyruses, pictures, papyruses, pictures, inscriptions and inscriptions and mummies. Diseases mummies. Diseases resulting from water resulting from water and food and food contamination and contamination and intestinal ailments intestinal ailments were common. were common.


Medical problems caused by worms, Medical problems caused by worms, insects and scorpions were well known. insects and scorpions were well known. Some parasites Some parasites were were also discovered in also discovered in mummies. Eye diseases were also mummies. Eye diseases were also common because of the sand storms. common because of the sand storms.

Trachoma also existTrachoma also existeded in Ancient Egypt. in Ancient Egypt. Some ailments described in texts may Some ailments described in texts may resemble gonorrhea. Arthritis, kidney and resemble gonorrhea. Arthritis, kidney and bladder stones were probably frequent.bladder stones were probably frequent.

Physicians in Ancient Egyptian Physicians in Ancient Egyptian MedicineMedicine

The usual term for a doctor was The usual term for a doctor was SunuSunu. . Some physicians belonged to the Some physicians belonged to the priesthood and priests of priesthood and priests of the the goddess goddess SekhmetSekhmet ((patroness of diseasespatroness of diseases)) remedies and physicremedies and physiciians. ans.

There was a hierarchy among physicians. There was a hierarchy among physicians. Court physicians were at the top of this Court physicians were at the top of this hierarchy. Practice of medicine seems hierarchy. Practice of medicine seems under state control.under state control.


Specialization in MedicineSpecialization in MedicinePhysicians were specialized for specific Physicians were specialized for specific diseases or organs. Some dealdiseases or organs. Some dealtt with with the the eye, some with head and some with teeth eye, some with head and some with teeth or belly etc. Lioness or belly etc. Lioness SekhmetSekhmet was believed was believed to bring epidemics and disease. She was to bring epidemics and disease. She was also also the the patronpatronesseesse deity of doctors. But deity of doctors. But there existthere existeded some other Gods and some other Gods and Goddesses for the diseases. For example Goddesses for the diseases. For example Gods Gods AmunAmun and and HorusHorus were responsible were responsible for the treatment of eye diseases etc. for the treatment of eye diseases etc.


ImhotepImhotepImhotep was chief vizier to Imhotep was chief vizier to the pharaoh Zozer, high the pharaoh Zozer, high priest, astrologpriest, astrologistist, pyramid , pyramid designer but above alldesigner but above all,, a a physician. His ‘sayings’ physician. His ‘sayings’ were later recorded and were later recorded and preserved. preserved. Ancient Egyptians believed Ancient Egyptians believed that he had great healing that he had great healing powers and was the powers and was the founder of medicine. They founder of medicine. They deified him as a God of deified him as a God of medicine. His cult survived medicine. His cult survived for centuries in Egypt. for centuries in Egypt.


Imhotep became associated with healing Imhotep became associated with healing rituals and temple sleep. Patients slept rituals and temple sleep. Patients slept overnight in temples and expected to be overnight in temples and expected to be visited by God in order to be cured. This visited by God in order to be cured. This practice wpractice wououlldd also exist in Ancient Greece also exist in Ancient Greece later on, on behalf of God Asklepilater on, on behalf of God Asklepioos.s.


The The Concept of DiseaseConcept of Disease

According to ancient Egyptians, life is in According to ancient Egyptians, life is in breath. The body has lots of canals (breath. The body has lots of canals (like like river Nileriver Nile) which carry blood, urine, air, ) which carry blood, urine, air, semen, tears etc. obstructions in this semen, tears etc. obstructions in this canals are one of the reason for diseases. canals are one of the reason for diseases.

All deities were associated with health or All deities were associated with health or illness. illness.


TreatmentTreatment

Therapeutics consisted a mixture of mystical and Therapeutics consisted a mixture of mystical and rational therapy. The prescriptions as recorded in rational therapy. The prescriptions as recorded in papyri showed an amazingpapyri showed an amazinglyly complex knowledge complex knowledge of medicinal plants. Amulets were also mostly of medicinal plants. Amulets were also mostly recommended and treatments involved with recommended and treatments involved with chants. chants.

They believed vegetables and fruits had healing They believed vegetables and fruits had healing properties.properties.

Application of cold heat and dressing also existApplication of cold heat and dressing also existeded. . Bloodletting by attaching leeches was also Bloodletting by attaching leeches was also common in practice. common in practice.


SurgerySurgery

Surgery was limited Surgery was limited to to repairing injuries repairing injuries and bone fractures. Circumcision was done and bone fractures. Circumcision was done in Egypt as early as the fifth millennium in Egypt as early as the fifth millennium B.C. B.C. and and cauterization cauterization is is clearly indicated clearly indicated in texts. in texts.


Dentistry

Tooth ailments should have been frequent. Some mummies show evidences of severe infections and loose teeth. They believed that the cause of the decays were ‘worms’ like in ancient Mesopotamia.

Things to remember from Ancient Things to remember from Ancient Egyptian MedicineEgyptian Medicine

The concept of disease in Egypt. (The concept of disease in Egypt. (the river Nilethe river Nile) ) Numerous gods responsible for different organsNumerous gods responsible for different organs Written sources – the papyriWritten sources – the papyri Very good knowledge on medicinal herbsVery good knowledge on medicinal herbs Mummification is performed, but anatomical Mummification is performed, but anatomical

knowledge is superficialknowledge is superficial Specialization and hierarchy among physicians, Specialization and hierarchy among physicians,

medicine under state controlmedicine under state control Limited surgery, circumcision, dentistryLimited surgery, circumcision, dentistry Imhotep and its lasting infuence on Greek cultureImhotep and its lasting infuence on Greek culture

Konuyla İlgili SORU/CEVAPKonuyla İlgili SORU/CEVAP

Soru 1: Soru 1: Antik Mısır tıbbında özellikle öne çıkan Antik Mısır tıbbında özellikle öne çıkan uygulamalar nelerdi? uygulamalar nelerdi?

Cevap 1: Bitkisel ürünlerle tedavi, diş tedavisi, Cevap 1: Bitkisel ürünlerle tedavi, diş tedavisi, sünnet, mumyalama sünnet, mumyalama

Soru 2: Soru 2: Antik Mısır tıbbının ünlü hekimi Antik Mısır tıbbının ünlü hekimi aşağıdakilerden hangisidir? aşağıdakilerden hangisidir?

Cevap 2: İmhotepCevap 2: İmhotep

ReferencesReferences

A. Selim ATAY, İnönü Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, A. Selim ATAY, İnönü Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, translationtranslation

Tolga GÜVEN, Marmara Üniversitesi Tıp Tarihi ve Tolga GÜVEN, Marmara Üniversitesi Tıp Tarihi ve Etik AD ders notlarıEtik AD ders notları

Ali Haydar BAYAT, Tıp TarihiAli Haydar BAYAT, Tıp Tarihi Emine ATABEK, Şefik GÖRKEY, Başlangıcından Emine ATABEK, Şefik GÖRKEY, Başlangıcından

Rönesansa Kadar Tıp TarihiRönesansa Kadar Tıp Tarihi Çağlar Boyu Tıp, Roche YayınlarıÇağlar Boyu Tıp, Roche Yayınları http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

history of medicine in ancient egypt assist.prof.dr. mehmet karataŞ department of history of...

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