Egyptian Medicine

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  • Egyptians
    • Key Aspects
      • Egypt grew around the lower reaches of the River Nile.
        • The empire grew wealthy because of the fertile soil, and also because of the strong rulers who took over lands.
          • They built large cities and were able to trade with distant cities such as China.
            • Because of trade they were able to mix with different cultures and to swap ideas, therefore knowledge was passed on and was able to grow.
          • Due to wealth a structured education system could be developed.
            • They built a  library at Alexandria which contained books which allowed people to study and learn about medicine.
    • Treatments
      • They used potions, remedies and probably herbs and plants.
      • They carried out more complicated operations with more knowledge.
      • They believed that diseases was caused by undigested food resting in the bowels.
        • They also believed that you can become ill if you sin and it's Gods punishing you.
          • Or if you've been cursed, magic, evil things, superstition and evil spirits.
    • Surgery and Anatomy
      • They practiced mummification to preserve bodies of the dead. Only wealthy people could have this done.
        • Priests would perform this task, and some of them would go on to become doctors.
        • It involved removing all internal organs, except the heart.
          • From this they would learn more about the inner workings of the bodies.
            • They would learn how to perform a proper operation, using no chemicals. Everything was natural.
            • They'd learn the different parts of the body.
              • They didn't dissect or try to find out how the body worked as they didn't want to damage the body before it went to afterlife.
                • They believed that the bodies had channels, like the River Nile, and that you're ill if one of your channels are blocked.
                  • They believed that channels lead from the heart and normally carried blood, air and water.
                  • It is believed that doctors were influenced by the farming methods. They knew that you have to keep the River Nile channels unblocked to keep their crops watered and alive.
          • They would then treat the bodies with spies which is embalming and then wrap it in bandages as a mummy.
    • Factors
      • Religion:  they believed that they needed their bodies for afterlife so they preserved their bodies by embalming. - Took eternal organs and wrapped them.
      • Education:  the wealth allowed people to study and become doctors, or craftsmen to make medical instruments.
      • Technology:  When new discoveries were made they could be written down on papyrus (paper made from reeds) and passed onto other doctors.
      • Communication: Trading brought them new medical plants and new medical ideas from different countries.
  • They mended bones and removed cysts, but no major surgery was done.
    • They carried out more complicated operations with more knowledge.
  • Imhotep: he was a personal doctor to the Pharaoh in 2600 BC. He was then made a God and was worshiped as the founder of Egyptian medicine.
    • They also believed that you can become ill if you sin and it's Gods punishing you.
      • Or if you've been cursed, magic, evil things, superstition and evil spirits.
    • People believed that leaving gifts at his temple would ensure a cure for their illness.

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