Egyptian Medicine 



       So that you know: I was most worried with my court, because the Nile did not come in seven years and the entire country was in great need. Then
       I turned my heart to the front; and I asked the wise Imhotep for advice, where the birthplace of the Nile is found and who would be the god that
       lived there. Upon this Imhotep answered, I have to go to the house of books and look up in the holy books. He returned soon and revealed
       wonders to me, to which no king has ever been shown the way since the beginning of time... Inscription of the Stele of Famine with the Edict of
       Djoser to the prince of Elephantine (2780 BC) 1 The Nile river is known almost universally by historians as the cradle of medicine because it
       passes through the great region of Egypt. Egypt greatly contributed to the western civilization. Their knowledge was far superior to any previous
       civilization, and many civilizations to come. One of their greatest achievements was in the field of medicine because they replaced myth with
       medical fact, this laid the foundations for modern medical practice. They discovered the cause of various illnesses and developed a cure. They
       practised both medical and spiritual healing so the worlds of religion and science could coexist. With the discoveries of several papyrus, we are
       learning more and more about their knowledge of the human anatomy. The literature discovered by archaeologists dates back to over 7000 years
       ago. In the early Egyptian times, medicine was practised most often by priests, not doctors or physicians. There were three main types of early
       healers, the priest physician, lay physician, and the magician-physician. The priest physicians were ranked highest among physicians because they
       practised a combination of clinical and spiritual medicine. The priest physicians were in such a high favour that it is most likely they were part of the
       Egyptian hierarchy, and involved with the state officials and pharaohs. It is unknown if the priest physicians ever received medical training. They
       were permitted to examine patients and participate in minor tasks. All diseases except those of the eye, were treated by a clergy who specialized
       with their own rule and hierarchy known as the Priests of Sekhmet. Gradually the physicians would gain their medical knowledge and would
       combine it with their knowledge of magic to become an effective and respected healer. The lay physicians also practised a combination of clinical
       and spiritual healing. Unlike the priest physician, the lay physicians were most likely trained to practice medicine. They were most likely derived
       from priests who had knowledge of the anatomy, and from magicians because they werent associated with any particular god or temple. The role
       of a lay physician wasnt only open to males, unlike the priest physicians, there are records of women physicians. Although the duties of the lay
       physician are vague due to the lack of information contained in the medical papyri, we can assume that they were closely linked to the field of
       surgery because of their medical training. The last type of physician called the magician-physician, was not trained in medicine and only used spells
       to cure the ill. This signifies that although the Egyptians made advances in the field of medicine, the aspect of magic never their medicine. All
       physicians of Egypt were regarded in high favour of the kings. They were given such titles as Chief of all court physicians,Physicians of the
       body, who knows the inner juices,Priest of Aton who in the palace goes and comes and gas admission to the king. The nobles also used the
       term body physicians. These body physicians, were permanently employed. Historians and archaeologists are unsure of the methods of
       payment for these physicians, but they know that the general physicians who went into the land were paid by natural resources such as a gold ring
       or bracelet. It was a family tradition to become a doctor. It is unsure whether the position was inherited or the fathers just wanted to pass down
       their knowledge to their sons. They can come to the conclusion that all physicians were well looked after and were a valuable asset to all pharaoh.
       In wartime and on journeys anywhere within Egypt, the sick are all treated free of charge, because doctors are paid by the state and scrupulous
       observance of the prescriptions drawn up by great doctors of the past is incumbent on them. Diodorus Siculus2 Court physicians had the same
       advantages of those who went out to the war front. They were paid directly by the pharaoh so a wounded soldier in battle would be able to
       receive free treatment. The art of medicine is thus divided: each physician applies himself to one disease only and not more. All places abound in
       physicians; some are for the eyes, others for the head, others for the teeth, others for the intestines, and others for internal disorders. Herodutus3
       In ancient Egypt, most physicians were specialists. One physician would specialize in treating flesh wounds, while another would specialize in
       treating eye infections. The larger part of the training of physicians took place in a house of life. The house of life is a temple devoted to treated the
       ill. One would only have to tell the house of life of his illness and a physician who specialized in that field would visit that person and treat the
       illness as best he could. At the temple of Heliopis, they discovered gravestones of the doctors of old schools and engraved on them were such
       inscriptions as superintendent of the secrets of health of the house of Thoth, the greatest of doctors, eye specialist to the palace. From
       hieroglyphics on the tomb of doctor Iry, we learned that he is called keeper of the kings rectum. There was also a keeper of the kings right
       eye, and keeper of the kings left eye. The Egyptians were able to treat teeth and eye problems. Doctors who specialized in the eyes were
       regarded extremely high in Egyptian society and were the pride of many Pharaohs. Eye doctors had considerable knowledge of the eye. They
       distinguished that there is both an outside part and an inside part to be treated. Eye diseases in Egypt, then and now, are more common then in any
       other region. Therefore eye doctors were in great demand and kings from neighbouring lands would ask the gift of an experienced eye doctor to
       join their court. They discovered a treatment for trachoma, or Egyptian eye disease. Trachoma causes fifty percent of all blindness, and is
       contagious. It is caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis, and it forms tiny blisters on the conjunctiva. The eye specialists would treat it by
       applying a mixture of sodium carbonate, black mascara, and red ocher. They were able to perform surgeries on the eye where they would remove
       the iris and remove a piece of rock or metal. Another speciality was the treating of the teeth. Ancient Egyptian doctors who specialized in dental
       care, are not believed to have had knowledge of dental surgery because no evidence has been found in any written texts. But archaeological finds
       show that attempts have been made. They discovered a mandible from the Fourth Dynasty that indicates that there was an attempt to drill a hole in
       one of the teeth. Possibly the first prosthesis was found in 1929 in Giza where two teeth were found with gold wire fixed to the teeth. Also they
       have found several mummies with artificial teeth. The study of several mummies indicates poor teeth condition. This can be attributed to the lack of
       nutrition, mostly lower class citizens. In the Papyrus Ebers, they found parts of a dental monograph titled The Beginning of Remedies for Stronger
       Teeth. Carious teeth were treated with a mixture of ocher, flour, spelt, and honey. Fillings were made out of a combination of malachite and resin.
       The Ancient Egyptian doctors and physicians used many types of natural resources to cure patients. In one case it was discovered that they used
       the electrical charge of the Malapterusus electricus, a close relative of the electric eel, was used to cure certain kinds of pain. To cure the gout, the
       patient would step on the electric eel, then place the other foot on a wet beach then wait until the leg is numb up to the knee. But he electric eels
       charges were too week to cure some ailments so the used the organs of some fish that produced electrical charges. At first history believed that the
       first case of leeches being used for medical purposes was in 135 AD by the Greek Nikandros. He described that the leeches were placed on the
       body and would clear out blood and congested fluids. They now know that 2,000 years earlier, this procedure was common in Egypt. They do
       not know how this was done, whether they actually cut open the vein with a knife, or used some other method. Their remedies are not all that
       different from our own. They used various kinds of pills, potions, pouttices, suppositories, and plasters. They had the knowledge to prevent
       wounds and cure many types of animal bites such as the crocodile. The doctors and physicians would suggest mouldy bread to prevent blisters,
       intestinal diseases, and suppurating wounds. They developed a cure for the cough that goes as follows: pieces of plant and mineral substances
       should be heated on hot stones. A pot with a hole bored into it should be put on top of this and a pipe should be put into the hole. The patient must
       swallow the herbal steam seven times. And because the mouth dries out, it should be rinsed out with oil.4 Archaeologists have discovered many
       papyrus, but some containing more information then others. The most famous of these is the Papyrus Ebers. It was found by an Arab in Luxor
       who discovered it will excavating a tomb. He demanded a large sum of money for the purchase, so with the financial support of a friend, George
       Ebers purchased the Papyrus. They dated back to the period between 1553-1550 BC. It was a collection of texts from the Old Empire that gave
       instructions on how to cure wounds, fractures, dislocations, and many other types of illnesses. They described how to treat fractures, they would
       use splints bound with bandages. When the Papyrus Ebers was written, Egypt was at its highest medical achievement. Historians can come to the
       conclusion that the papyrus belonged to the Pharaoh Amenhotep (1557-1501 BC) . It is the most accurate account of early Egyptian medicine
       ever written. At this time medicine was much freer of magic then before. It is used as the founding book of knowledge for ancient Egyptian
       medicine. Much of the contents of the papyrus, deal with constipation, giving several effective cures that in some parts of the world, are still used
       today. The Papyrus Ebers consisted of 108 columns divided into forty-five groups. The second group for example would describe various kinds of
       laxatives, while group four describes stomach ailments. The texts contained in the Papyrus Ebers are difficult to understand, and there are many
       unknown terms used within. One of the most famous ancient doctors is Imhotep. He was a great privilege to have as a Pharaoh. He worked in the
       court of the pharaoh Khasekhem. When he was finished, he turned to the speechless women and said, on these wounds, compresses of fresh
       meat must be applied and new ones must be reapplied five times daily. After this, the patient should drink milk mixed with beef gall bladder....5
       This is an exert from Pierre Montalauers book about Imhotep. It refers to the ordeal of the birth of the great Pharaoh Djoser. After the
       deliverance, the queen of the Upper Egyptian capital, received a tear of the perineum. Imhotep quickly bandaged the haemorrhaging and stitched
       the wound. The exert is Imhotep giving the queen instructions to follow in order to let the wound heal properly. He saved the queen but around the
       same time his wife died giving birth to his son. He then locked himself in with his wife for forty days to mummify her. This was the first recorded
       process of mummification known. He committed a large part of his life to Djoser the future Pharaoh. He played a major role in the court, was
       vizier to his king , he was a great architect and astrologist. In some legends it says that he ended the seven year drought by creating an elaborate
       system of irrigation, organizing fisheries, and he also preserved food. Imhotep built the first pyramid in the world, the step mastaba of Saqara.6 It
       was erected over the resting place of Pharaohs wife who was buried in the Nile Delta. It is now known that Egyptian medicine contributed greatly
       to modern medicine. Many of the therapies used today are similar to those used in ancient Egyptian times such as the method of treating a
       fractured bone. They were the first to use electrotherapy to cure pain, and also have an understanding of what happened. The first ever
       mummification was in Egypt and the process was used for centuries to come by all Egyptian peoples. With the discoveries of more and more
       papyrus, ancient Egyptians are now getting the credit they deserve for their contributions to modern medicine. Bibliography Atkinson, D.T.
       Magic, Myth and Medicine. New York: The World Publishing Company, 1956. Dawson, Warren R. Ancient Egyptian Medicine. (Online)
       available. http://www.lri.ucsf.edu/public_html/egypt.html Margotta, Roberto. The Story of Medicine. New York: Golden Press, 1968. Stetter,
       Cornelius. The Secret Medicine of the Pharaohs: Ancient Egyptian Healing. Carol Stream: Quintessence Publishing Company, 1993. Thorward,
       Jurgen. Science and Secrets of Early Medicine. Cologn: DuMont Press, 1962. Trueman, John H., Trueman, Dawn Cline. The Enduring Past.
       Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited, 1982. Footnotes 



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