The Voynich Manuscript (above) has baffled cryptographers since the early 15th-century document was rediscovered by a Polish book dealer in 1912. The handwritten, 240-page screed, now housed in Yale University’s Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, is written from left to right in an unknown language until now. After feeding it to an AI (Artificial Intelligence Lab at the University of Alberta) trained to recognize 380 languages with 97 percent accuracy, its analysis of the letter frequency suggested the text was likely written in Hebrew. Read more
The Edwin Smith Papyrus is a comprehensive medical text on surgery from Ancient Egypt that was written around 1600 BC. This document was named after the dealer who bought the manuscript in 1862. The document may have been a manual of military surgery, as it describes how to treat injuries, such as fractures, wounds, and dislocations. It’s the world’s oldest known surgical treatise and is 15.3 feet in length. The front side has 377 lines in 17 columns, while the backside has 92 lines in five columns. The vast majority of the papyrus is concerned with trauma and surgery, with short sections on gynecology and cosmetics on the back. On the front side, there are 48 cases of injury. Each case details the type of injury, examination of the patient, diagnosis and prognosis, and treatment. The papyrus begins by addressing injuries to the head, and continues with treatments for injuries to the neck, arms and torso, detailing injuries in descending anatomical order, much like a modern anatomical exposition.
Table 1. The ATSDR 2013 Substance Priority List. The table below lists top 20 substances, in order of priority, which are determined to pose the most significant potential threat to human health. This priority list is not a list of “most toxic” substances but rather a prioritization of substances based on a combination of their frequency, toxicity, and potential for human exposure at various sites.
The Archaeology of Disease
By Charlotte A. Roberts, Keith Manchester Scholarly articles for Charlotte Roberts, paleopathology, the archaeology of disease. The archaeology of disease - Roberts - Cited by 1609 Human osteology: in archaeology and forensic science - Cox - Cited by 244 The palaeopathology of leprosy in Britain: a review - Manchester - Cited by 44 [BOOK] The archaeology of disease
CA Roberts, K Manchester - 2007 - books.google.com The Archaeology of Disease shows how the latest scientific and archaeological techniques can be used to identify the common illnesses and injuries from which humans suffered in antiquity. Charlotte Roberts and Keith Manchester offer a vivid picture of ancient disease and trauma by combining the results of scientific research with information gathered from documents, other areas of archaeology, art, and ethnography. The book contains information on congenital, infectious, dental, joint, endocrine, and metabolic diseases. (1), (2), Cited by 1609 Related articles All 6 versions The Greek physician Hippocrates, circa 450 bce, classified the amadou mushroom (Fomes fomentarius) as a potent anti-inflammatory and for cauterizing wounds. The alchemist Tao Hongjing, from the 5th century, described several medicinal mushrooms, including ling zhi ( Ganoderma lucidum ) and zhu ling ( Dendropolyporus umbellatus ), some in use reportedly by Shennong many centuries before.(1), (2),
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Antiquity of Medicine
Hippocrates Father of Medicine: Hippocratic school of medicine: school of thought. Established medicine as a discrete profession and established the doctor. Hippocrates began teaching that every disease had only natural causes. He is known as the great ancient Greek physician. In medicine, doctors still refer to the Hippocratic oath, instituted by Hippocrates, who is also credited with laying the foundations of medicine as a science. Doctor vs Patient Relationship - Highly individualized - Based on observation: diagnosis - Patient orientated - Non-surgical/ non-invasive: reasonably mild interventions - Little use of drugs/ specific remedies - Dietary treatments preferred - Self-doctoring based on humoral medicine Hippocratic Corpus A collection of around 60 early Ancient Greek medical works strongly associated with the physician Hippocrates and his teachings Humoral Medicine 4 associated dispositions with the seasons and humors. Healthy is balanced, unhealthy is imbalanced Four Humors - Summer- fire: yellow bile: choleric - Earth- black bile: autumn: melancholic - Air- blood: spring: sanguine - Water- phlegm: winter: Phlegmatic Imbalances caused by Season, Behavior, Alignment of the stars, and One's individual make up 3000 BCE - Mesopotamia Era Viewed disease as largely supernatural, their type of medicine might be regarded as systematized sorcery Saw the hands of the gods in everything - disease caused by spirit invasion - sorcery - Malice or the breaking of taboos - Sickness was seen as judgment and punishment Three types of Healers - Seer - specializing in divination, word comes from the word divine- godsli> - Preist - performed incantation and exorcisms - Physician - employed drugs, bandaging, and surgery The Code of Hammurabi - named after the 6th king of the first dynasty of Babylon- was a mighty ruler, but feared The code of hammurabi includes: -medical instructions for physicians -its rules set fee for treatment including scale option- (you pay what you are able) -strict fines for incompetence or failure- if patient dies, or doesn't follow through Medical instructions, Rules set fee for treatment including sliding scale, and strict fines for incompetence or failure The Treatise of Medical Diagnosis and Prognosis comprises about 3000 entries on forty stone tablets: a list of ailments used today mesopotamia healing practices? remain cloudy, but about 1000 clay tablets from the library ofAssurbanipal regarding diagnoses, prognostications., and remedies and their ingredients. 2000 BCE the Egypt Era First culture known was the Mesopotamia What were the 4 Egypt Papyrus? "The Book of Wounds" or "Edwin Smith Papyrus" "The London Papyrus" "The Kahun Papyrus" "The Ebers Papyrus" "the book of wounds" or "the edwin smith papyrus" -gives a head of toe inventory of 48 case reports including, injuries, wounds, prognosis and treatments. -This document shows a combination of empirical components as well as magic and religious bent : herbs for treatment "the london papyrus" described maternal care- mother & child "the kahun papyrus" deals with animal medicine and gynecology (including methods for detecting pregnancy and contraception) "the ebers papyrus" the principle medical document, indeed the oldest surviving medical book -deals with scores of disease and proposes remedies including spells and incantations- this shows a prominence of magic -amulets, chants, and supplications were suggested to the appropriate deity -covers 15 disease of the abdomen- only outside -20 of the eyes -19 of the skin -21 or more cough treatments -over 700 drugs (herbs, minerals, animal remedies) egyption people -used veggies and fruits for healing -medical practice was under state control- worked under phero -physicians were assigned to specialized practices in disease or body organs -heath was endangered by war and supernatural forces -HEALTH was associated with good living, being at peace w/ gods, spirits and the dead -illness was an imbalance which could be restored through: supplication, spells, and rituals Egyptian people -Fruits & veggies for healing -Medical Practice organized under state -physicians assigned specialized in disease or body organs During the Egyptian Era, Health was associated with correct living, being at peace with gods? Egyptian Surgery -Limited -Suture, Cautery, Wound dressings used to promote healing -Anatomical knowledge was limited to bones & major organs Ramses II - Built extensively throughout egypt - 19th century - most celebrated pharaoh - led military expeditions - married Nefertari Alexander The Great - arrival in Ptolemaic Period and founding of alexandria - had himself crowned pharaoh Ahmenhotep IV/ Akhenaton - son of Amenhotep III and Tiye - introduces worship of Aton (the god of sun disk) - changes name to Akhenaton - closed temples to other gods - 18th Dynasty - second wife: Kiya - replaced Thebes with a new Capitol called Akhenaton, near Amarna. Thutmose I - principal wife Ahmose - parents to the future Queen Hatshepsut - 1st pharaoh to be buried in valley of the kings - 18th Dynasty Thutmose II - only reigned for 3 years - Hatshepsut (half sister served as his great royal wife) - daugher Neferure - has very few monuments and no identifiable tomb - 18th Dynasty Thutmose III - ascended to throne as a child (hatshepsut's step son/ nephew) - attempted to erase records of Hatshepsut - 18th dynasty Hatshepsut - Hatshepsut reigns as co- regent and eventually assumes role of pharaoh for 22 years before her death. - one of Egypts greatest pharaos - one of the most prolific builders of Egypt --> 100 different grand buildings - thutmose III attempts to erase records of Hatshepsut. - 18th Dynasty Nefertiti - Armana Period - Akhenaton's great royal wife " the beautiful one has come" - disappearance for record after 14 years * died * banished * assumed role as a pharaoh Tutankhamen - Throne as a child - abandoned city founded by his father and moved court back to memphis - old cults restored Amun was one of the most powerful gods in ancient Egypt. At the height of Egyptian civilisation he was called the 'King of the Gods'. Amun. Amun was important throughout the history of ancient Egypt. However, when Amun was combined with the sun god Ra he was even more powerful. Cleopatra VII 19th Dynasty - Ptolemaicat period - relationship with caesar(one son,caecarion) - Married Marc Antony (twins, Alexandar Helios, Cleopatra Selene, and son Ptolemy) - Cleopatras death: asp? poison? murder by augustos? Khufu - The Great pyramids built under him and others - Khufu's is the largest, Aten is the disk of the sun in ancient Egyptian mythology, and originally an aspect of the god Ra. The deified Aten is the focus of the religion of Atenism established by Amenhotep IV, who later took the name Akhenaten (died ca. 1335 BCE) in worship and recognition of Aten. Osiris - important symbol of resurrection - famous egyptian myth - by identifying osiris, one hopes to gain new life and osiris role as a judge of the dead Queen Kiya Kiya was one of the wives of the Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten. Little is known about her, and her actions and roles are poorly documented in the historical record, in contrast to those of Akhenaten's first royal wife, Nefertiti, mother of tutankhamun Sarcophagus he word "sarcophagus" comes from the Greek σάρξ sarx meaning "flesh", and φαγεῖν phagein meaning "to eat", hence sarcophagus means "flesh-eating"; from the phrase lithos sarkophagos (λίθος σαρκοφάγος). Isis role model for all egyptian women represented with a solar disk or cow's horn on head. Horus Falcon headed god of war, sky, or hunting King tut's mummy - unexpected death in 10 year of rule - two still born female babies found in tomb but no apparent heir - discovered by Howard Carter Hatshepsut's mummy - thtmose III attempts to erase records of hatshepsut - cartouches and images were chisled off some stone walls, gaps in the artwork - numerous statues were torn down, smashed, or disfigured and buied in a pit - suffered diabetes, arthritis, and bad teeth and bone cancer - died in her 50's Ramses II mummy aquiline nose strong jaw'5'7" tall battle wounds old fractures arthritis red hair tomb KV5 belong to the sons of Ramses II had 100+ children with 7 diff wives largest tomb in valley 130 chambers Mummy Portraits realistic images on wooden boards that covered mummy's face Greco- roman style of art Great pyramids - built under king Khufu, jhafre, menkqure - Giza - Khufu is largest -2540 bc 13 acres 481 ft high 2.5 million stone blocks obelisks a four-sided tapering shaft with a pyramidal top, originally erected in pairs at the entrances of ancient Egyptian temples. The Egyptian obelisk was carved from a single piece of stone, usually red granite from the quarries at Aswan. valley of the kings - new kingdom - buiilt into the sides of hills - thebes - royal mummies - labeled kv or wv nefertari's tomb kv66 nefertari beloved of ramses the great badly looted in antiquity rosetta stone - discovered in 1799 by french sodiers during napoleon's campaign of egypt - british museum - contains 3 languages : heiroglyphics, demotic, and classical greek The greate sphinx tall latgest surviving statue in the ancient world wearing a uraeous and believed to be king khafre restored 1000 years later during rein of tuthmosis IV Nefertari's bust " most beautiful woman in Egypt" narmer palette on one side, the king is depicted with the bulbed white crown of upper southern egypt, and the other side depicts the king wearing the level red crown of lower northern egypt - smiting scene - cosmetic pallete armarna Amarna is an extensive Egyptian archaeological site that represents the remains of the capital city newly established and built by the Pharaoh Akhenaten of the late Eighteenth Dynasty, and abandoned shortly after his death Bent pyramid The Bent Pyramid is an ancient Egyptian pyramid located at the royal necropolis of Dahshur, approximately 40 kilometres south of Cairo, built under the Old Kingdom Pharaoh Sneferu ka spiritual physical body was preserved properly ka could continue its life ma'at spiritual precept that conveyed the idea of truth and justice, especially right order and harmony. book of the dead funerary text contains magical spells used to assist hte dead through the underworld and into the afterlife. new kingdom 18th dynasty// amarna - women were extremely active in reigns of their husbands or children - The Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt (notated Dynasty XVIII, alternatively 18th Dynasty or Dynasty 18) is classified as the first Dynasty of the Ancient Egyptian New Kingdom period, lasting from 1549/1550 BC to 1292 BC heiroglyphics labeled by the greeks meaning priest carvings or sacred writings egyptian canon of human proportions every human is drawn according to a strict set of principles in order to not upset ma'at old kingdom 3100 BCE kinge menes united both upper and lower egypt into a single kingdom middle kingdom - centered at thebes - pharaos begin to be concerned with the egyptian people - golden age due to the economic, social, and political stability of the time period. - Buried in hidden tombs instead of pyramids new kingdom ahmose (1550-1525) : first pharoah of 18th dynasty contact with aegean : minoan frescos ptolemaic period arrival of alexander the great and founding of alexandria alexander had himself crowned as pharoah ancient egyptian ways prevailed ptolemy's rule egypt until 30 BCE Egyptomania - cult of isis reaches roman world - hadrian's gardens: atoninus in egyptianizing statues use of obelisks through rome 1000 BCE the Greece Era Health was not placed on physical exercised Greek Society drew heavily on what 4 sacred healers -Apollo - God of healing -Asclepius - son of Apollo taught herbal remedies and generously used them to heal humans -Daughters of Asclepius accompanied him - Hygeia (goddess of hygiene and health) & Panacea (goddess of cures) Greece -medical tests were secular or religious -thought physical exercise was important -drew heavily upon sacred healing : the gods! -also healing through exorcisms, shamans and priests *evidence of medical discourse- how much medical knowledge taken from egypt is controversial |
Maggots
There’s nothing in the tool rule book that says medical instruments can’t be alive. The Maya and Australian Aboriginals were among the first to realize this. They tightly tamped wounds with maggots, knowing the off-white wigglers would feast on infected and necrotized tissue.
In more recent history, doctors in the Civil War, World War I and World War II all used maggots to treat infected wounds.
But the larval marvels haven’t been consigned to the history books: Today, more than 800 U.S. health care centers have used medical maggots on patients. The immature flies are creating buzz as an important option for treating open wounds that won’t heal, caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (the MRSA superbug), diabetic foot ulcers, flesh-eating disease and others.
There’s nothing in the tool rule book that says medical instruments can’t be alive. The Maya and Australian Aboriginals were among the first to realize this. They tightly tamped wounds with maggots, knowing the off-white wigglers would feast on infected and necrotized tissue.
In more recent history, doctors in the Civil War, World War I and World War II all used maggots to treat infected wounds.
But the larval marvels haven’t been consigned to the history books: Today, more than 800 U.S. health care centers have used medical maggots on patients. The immature flies are creating buzz as an important option for treating open wounds that won’t heal, caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (the MRSA superbug), diabetic foot ulcers, flesh-eating disease and others.