Doctors were highly respected in antique, although Egyptian society according to modern standards, their practice is a mixture of real science, incantatory quackery and magic-superstition. Ancient Egyptian doctors had a great international reputation for their time and they were very wanted by Kings and princes of the Egypt limits. An account of papyrus dating from the period Rammesid tells the story of the "Prince of the Bakhten" (the King of the Hittites) sent a plea to his Majesty the King of Egypt, of Bentrach, daughter reached a disease that caused its members to twitch violently. The Pharaoh graciously sent a scribe of the "House of life" travel to Bakhten and attend the Hittite King's daughter.
Egyptian medicine was the exclusive domain of the priests. Ancient doctors were mostly priests of the gods Serket Neith, RA-Atum. They cultivated gardens grass to provide the medication. There was a temple dedicated to the goddess Neith Sais had a medical school and a herbarium which produces various herbs and plant products such as castor oil, mandragora, dill, caraway, hartshorn and cilantro.
Medical Papyrus former Egypt date back to the old empire. The ancient Egyptians cherished tradition thus more a medical papyrus or a method of treating the higher is the authority attributed to it.
How reliable has been at the service of Egyptian doctors?
We know that the ancient Egyptian doctors were qualified quack (a very developed practice among native physicians in many parts of Africa). Ancient Egyptian doctors had a good knowledge of antiseptic herbs and ointments that they used very effectively for the treatment of wounds and cuts that they dressed with bandages and poultices.
Their greatest weakness area was in internal medicine who, of all the evidence, has remained largely a mystery to them. Here, they returned to spells, magic and incantations formula. Most of the time the doctor service was more than threat to the lives of the patient and health than the disease itself. Clinic doctor included a bizarre "drugs" as the blood of lizards, toads, frogs, wings of bats, snail viscera feces and slime disposal, breast milk collection and menstrual blood of the Virgin.
Usually, these evil preparations have been made with incantations and manoeuvres magic bizarre. It is, however, not all darkness for the ancient Egyptian doctors in the field of internal medicine. They were aware of the importance of cardiac function. Historians have often expressed surprise at the ignorance of the former Egyptian physician of abdominal organs such as liver, kidney and pancreas, given the development of art and the practice of the embalming process in the former Egypt. It has, however, been pointed that Egyptian Embalmers were generally not doctors and physicians are usually not Embalmers. Opportunity for the cross-fertilization of ideas and knowledge between the two professions was limited, for the professions generally jealously guarded their knowledge and skills of laity.
Herodotus commented on the great concern of the ancient Egyptians to their health. "They take care of their health and Emetic purgative which they use three consecutive days, every month and they believe that all evil comes from ingested food."
In spite of their knowledge limited physicians ancient Egyptian cared to specialize. According to Herodotus there eyes and bone healers the belly. Specialist gynaecologists dealing mainly infertility problems if the practice records show there than most of it was harmful and 'gynaecologists' could be frankly considered threat to the health of their patients.
Ancient Egyptians were also interested in the aesthetic medicine as it is indicated by a stylized papyrus: book to an old man in a young twenty.
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