MECIDINE IN EGYPT

BY
EMMANUELLA OTA
ANCIENT
 The Medicine of the Ancient Egyptians
From the beginnings of the civilization in the
33rd century BC , Egyptian medical practice was
highly advanced for its time, including simple
non-invasive surgery, setting of bones and an
extensive set of pharmacopoeia.
Egyptian medical thought influenced later
traditions, including the Greeks.
DOCTORS AND PHYSICIANS
 Specialist Doctors and Physicians
 • Their were doctors who specialised in the

head, eyes,ears, the stomach and fertility.

 • There were different levels of doctors in the

medical profession.
The most senior physician in Egypt was the
chief medical officer. There were inspectors of
physicians who validated the working practises
of doctors.
The Edwin Smith Papyrus documents ancient
Egyptian medicine, including the diagnosis and
treatment of injuries
 The techniques employed in Ancient Egyptian
medicine when dealing with wounds and
injuries was documented in a papyrus first
owned by a man named Edwin Smith. This has
become known as the 'Edwin Smith Surgical
Papyrus' and is believed to date back to
1600BC.
The papyrus details a systematic approach to
diagnosis describing 48 different types of
fractures, dislocations and wounds.
Medical Examinations

The Edwin Smith Surgical Papyrus also details

the medical examination process
Patients were questioned at some length
regarding their well being including details of
their bodily functions.
A physician would examine a patient with
gentleness and care using his senses of both
smell and touch during the examination.
 Ebers Papyrus treatment for cancer:
recounting a "tumor against the god Xenus", it
recommends "do thou nothing there against
An ancient Egyptian medical text dating back
to 1550BC
DIAGNOSIS

Egyptian doctors were known to have documented

hundreds of illnesses. These included ulcers, migraine,
dermatological problems, dental conditions, diseases of the
ear, nose, throat and digestive system and gynae conditions.

Papyrus revealed detailed knowledge of the digestion,

nervous system and circulation. They were also skilled in
various surgical techniques, medicine and injuries such as
burns, wounds and infections.

The Egyptian doctors accompanied soldiers on theie various

military campaigns.
Ancient Egyptian Medicine

Medicine was well respected and Egyptian

physicians were often sent to the courts of
allies to offer treatments and cures to important
political figures and members of royalty
including the Kings of Persia.

The knowledge of medicine, anatomy and the

working of the human was well established
Magic and Spells

Also part of Egyptian medicine were magic,

charms, and spells. An Egyptian physician was
also a magician and practised various rituals
The magic accompanied the remedies and were
believed to be effective in ridding patients of
evil spirits.
Reflexiology
• Forms of Reflexology can be found in
numerous cultures, dating back thousands
of years. It can be found in the Papyrus
Ebers
AFTERLIFE & Mummification
Surgical instruments
DISEASES OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN

 • Fertility was diagnosed by placing garlic in the vagina for one night. If
the next day the woman can taste or smell it in her mouth, she is
fertile. This is based upon the connection between the genital parts and
interior of the body. Such connection would be lost in a case of
obstructed Fallopian tubes. In modern medicine HGSnc
 • Diagnosis of pregnay and sex determination of the future child was
based on the fact that pregnant urine germinates cereals more rapid
then non-pregnant one. If the child was a male, the urine would
germinate wheat, and if a female, it would geminate barley. The same
tests have been used in Europe up till the Middle Ages.
 • Delivery was performed in the squatting position, with the woman
supporting her arms on knees and sitting on two bricks. Difficult labors
were aided by burning resin,or massaging the abdomen by saffron
powder and beer. Abortions were done by introduction of warm oil and
fat in the vagina.
“Houses of birth” or “Mammisi” They were
visited by pregnant women seeking help,
rather than being a birth place
CONTRACEPTION
insertion of crocodile oil, gum acacia or honey into
the vagina. Gum acacia when dissolved produces
lactic acid, a very effective known spermicidal.
Infants :
“Nothing is more lawere breast fed for three years, and this was
encouragedwful than one’s mother milk”.
Milk stimulants were resorted to, as mentioned in Ebers Papyrus:
INTERNAL MEDICINE: “Ebers Papyrus”
• Angina
• Cough
• Joint pains
• Brocheal asthma, constipation, diarrhea
• Migraine was considered a special entity and needed special
notice.
 • Trepanning (making holes in the skull to
relief pressure from within) was practiced in
ancient Egypt. Numerous skulls at the faculty
of medicine museum in Cairo show well-
delineated circular holes in the frontal bones.
Signs of perfect healing at the edges denote
that the procedures were performed during
life, and the patient survived enough time to
allow healing. Examination of the overlying
bone (and the scalp in a mummy) suggest that
surgical procedures have been undertaken.
THE END