Ancient History of Egyptian Medicines - Essay Example

 Ancient History of Egyptian Medicines Introduction:- Ancient Egyptians history can be espoused to as long as 3000 BC where medicine was worshiped as a religion. Egyptians are one of the most ancient civilizations in the world and was often considered to possess an aura of modernity and progress unparalleled with other civilizations of that time. The tales of magnificent manifestations of scientific knowledge in the form of corpse preservation and retention for hundreds of years act as testimony to the fact that scientific and medical knowledge in Egypt was very advanced. The majority considered medicine as an alternate to medicine or to quote in a better way, they exclaimed it to be the work of God. Consider yourself counted your breath on your death bed. The best place to be in such a situation would undoubtedly be Egypt. It isn’t because the Egyptians had a greater chance of saving your life or they were any better than their foreign colleagues but the satisfaction to be treated by the most worthy personnel’s surpassed over other worries. Egyptians knowledge of ancient medical practices have been consequent from a variety of sources, which include artistic presentations; surviving medical literature and instruments; social and literary records; and vast references in the historical proceedings. [res11]. These were more than enough to get a fair picture of their health practices in the past. Moreover, food which they consumed to the treatments they preferred was all excerpted from medical literature. Egyptians are considered to be one of the few dynasties to have lived healthy lifestyles. Their average life expectancies have been estimated to be thirty to thirty six years. A few outliers could be traced to have lived more than sixty years as well. A few prominent examples include Kings Pepy II and Ramesses II (Musso, 2005). Egyptians have for long relied on prayer, magic and a jewelry which they usually hung about the neck and thought to be a magical protection from diseases to find cure of any illness present. They have never really taken diet as a source of cure. Milk products were seldom consumed as was the seeds or oil. Moreover, their belief in magic has produced effective results not because of the magic itself but the belief that it could cure illness. Ingredients were chosen because they were devised from substance, plant or animals which resembled condition of the patient. Only because of this rationale that many patients were given strong drugs which affected their health in a negative direction. For instance, an ostrich egg is included in the treatment of a broken skull, and an amulet picturing a hedgehog which might be used against baldness. The Healers Egyptians doctors or more commonly known as doctor cum priest-physicians were known to specialize in treating different constituents of the body, which aligned believes about different Gods governing specific parts of the body. Usually, doctors were called as ‘sunu’, which was written with an arrow-shaped symbol. Some doctors were linked to priest hood, encompassing priest of goddess Sakhmet. Some again were counted among the scribes, as shown in such titles as 'chief doctor and scribe of the word of god'. Many enjoyed priestly as well as lay titles.  They cured by spelling different conjurations for specific ailments.  Physical medicines which included herbs were mostly used to assuage the pain only, while magic affected the cure.  From early Dynasty times, the medical community was highly characterized and divided into simple physicians, overseers of physicians, inspectors, and chief of all physicians, inspector of the palace chief, and a chief palace physician as well. These hierarchies were further divided into a cue of medical specialties which encompassed ophthalmology, dentistry, internal disease, and proctology. [Joh02] Surgery has been a common practice for Egyptian physicians. They have taken surgery as a usual solution for physical injuries. Surgical instruments which were discovered from sites encompassed knives, hooks, drills, scales, spoons, pinchers and burning incense. Moreover, the Egyptians made inroads into dentistry as well. Egyptians were high in their diet for food. They regularly consumed sand left over from grinding grain and ate more solid foods. This eventually led to the poor condition of their teeth resulting in a demand for dentistry. They were infected with cavities, major dental diseases and infected cyst. Dentistry wasn’t highly effective as the patient could hope for a quiet tooth loss infected with cavity as the only option. The extensive use of surgery coupled with mummification gave Egyptians huge bulk of knowledge about organ functions. Egyptians assumed the correct functions of all major organs for instance; blood was thought to be a medium for getting in new and removing wastage which fairly resembles its actual role. In addition to the above, Egyptians have been known for their medicines. Pharmacists used up almost 700 different drugs to prepare over 800 standardized prescriptions that were sculptured into pills, inhalants and gargles. [Mel10]  Egyptian physicians have not been experimental in their operations. If they know that the treatment would lead no remedy then they would not experiment or endanger the life of the patient. He was left to cure by nature, and considered a test of his tolerance by God. On the contrary, much of the medicine was made of drugs hence resulting in a higher chance of poisoning the dressed wound or rarely causing the whole disease to be cured in one move. Their reliance on magic caused resistance on the development of cures, yet their belief innately generated effectiveness in pseudo medicines. Moreover, disease patterns have been found when the mummy of Nakht was inspected. Parasitic disease was prevalent in the bones of Nakht. Moreover, bacterial and viral infection as previously stated were also observed due to rough food items chewed regularly. This caused infection to disturb the internal functions of the body. Another disease which was discovered when Nesparehan, a priest in 21st dynasty, was inspected was tuberculosis. This shows how different features of Pott’s disease with collapse of thoracic vertebra, which brought about angular hump-back. Egyptians have been ahead in the research done over mummies which are taken out to inspect the condition of it. Various other diseases were inferred when inspections were regularly held. Information regarding Egyptian medicines has been excerpted from seven medical papyruses that have been discovered. All techniques which were used in Ancient Egyptian medicines dealing with wounds and injuries were documented in papyrus. The inception of these texts goes down to 12th Dynasty to 20th Dynasties. [Jam95] Edward Smith Papyrus The first of it was owned by Edwin Smith. It gained popularity as ‘Edwin Smith Surgical Papyrus’ which dates back to 1600BC. It provided details of forty-eight different types of fractures and dislocations. It involved conjurations which were pertinent to rituals practiced by the Ancient Egyptians. Moreover, doctors were highly skilled in herbal remedies. Herbs such as garlic and juniper berries were extensively used to create life saving drug. Opium was one of the extensively used to kill the pain. Doctors could discriminate between simple and complex problems and yielded solutions accordingly. Egyptians were fond of cleanliness and it contributed substantially to their success. The Ebers Papyrus Ebers is a document which traces to about 1550 BC. It is a better version of Edwin Smith, which encompasses diverse medical texts. It accepts a relationship between physical and spiritual forces in human health. Moreover, Ebers papyrus consisted of numerous different medical texts in random order. However, understanding of the illness is still at the elementary level. One of its findings 1/8th cup figs and grapes, bread dough, pit corn and onions could cure diarrhea in ancient Egypt. [Ree92] The Kahun Gynecological Papyrus Kahun Gynecological traced back to 1825 BC. It dealt with symptoms of disease pertinent to reproductive organs. It provided guidelines regarding sperm, fertility and other functions related to it. The Hearst Papyrus The Papyrus is named after William Randolph Hearst who contributed majorly to the work carried out in Egypt by the University of California. It dates back to the 18th dynasty and concentrates on recovery of the urinary system, blood and hair, and bites. The Chester Beatty Papyri This papyrus was named after Sir Alfred Chester Beatty. He was fond of books and manuscripts. It traces back to 19th Dynasty. The content has many magical incantations against headache. However, remedies have not been registered till yet from these incantations. The Berlin Papyrus This papyrus was acquired by Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia in 1827 for the Berlim Musuem. It resembles highly to the Ebers papyrus. The content is similar to what is written in Eber’s papyrus. The London Papyrus: It was pasted to British Museum in 1860. It concentrates on magical spells and remedies devised from it. It has been an effective tool since its inception. Egyptians were also known for their work in anatomy. It began from 1600 BC and it showed the role of the heart, vessels, liver, spleen, kidneys and bladder and their work in relation to the heart. More of it is discussed in Edwin’ and Ebers papyrus. Mummification was one of the main findings of anatomy in the ancient history of the Egyptians. They buried their dead in small pits in the desert. They dehydrated, heated and dried the body quickly to create and real life like experience. Over the years, this process was modified by wrapping them in strips of linen. Eventually it was called Mummification. Furthermore, the concept of metu was devised as well. It connects to the heart, which totaled to be 22 and ended at the anus. They are also mentioned in the Ebers Papyrus. The main function of it is to carry blood and sometimes air. It was devised that metu is essential to life and health. Imbalances in it could create problems which will lead to pain and illness. Egyptians have performed far beyond their abilities. They have devised solutions of the biggest problems in the history and implemented it to the best of their abilities. They wrote their first medical texts and all seven papyruses which provided insights about how to get rid of problems regarding metu. They provided first surgical technique which till now is implemented. The form has changed but the essence provided at its inception remained the same. Egyptians were the first one to introduce splints and bandages which were not only used for mummification but extensively used for dressing of wounds. Moreover, the Egyptians were the initiator of drug therapies. Previously, nobody knew that Opium could be such an effective pain killer, but with the advent of the Egyptians and their growth in the arena of medicine, it is a common practice now. Egyptians have undoubtedly laid the foundation of a prosperous and healthy world. They have designed the framework for it, which the current generation and the generations to come will build upon and end up in a sustainable and healthy environment. Bibliography res11: , (reshafim, 2011), Joh02: , (Nunn, 2002), Mel10: , (Senin, 2010), Jam95: , (James T. Willerson, 1995), Ree92: , (Reeves, 1992), Read More