Ancient Egyptian Medicine

The society of Ancient Egypt relied on the River Nile.

• Agricultural- spread in a narrow bend along Nile- 3400BC- 30BC
• Nile floods- fertilises fields & provides water for irrigation 
• Successful agriculture- spare food- more people could be professionals (doctors etc)
• Barges on Nile enabled transportation & communication- trade & government easier
• Had writing- ideas could be recorded & communicated

The world of the Egyptians was controlled by the Gods.

• Gods- controlled all aspects of life- including illness & medicine
• Amulets, charms & rituals- avoid & cure illness
• Sekhmet- goddess of war- also sent & cured epidemics
• Thoth- god who gave doctors ability to cure
• Imhotep- Pharaoh Zoser's doctors- adopted god of healing
• Priest kept Books of Thoth- contained treatments & spells
• Some drugs used are still used today (opium)- driving away spirits rather than curing
• Instructions were exact- what medicines to give etc.

The Eqyptians actually looked at their patients.

• Diagnosis- observation of patient & recognition of symptoms
• Egyptians writings demonstrate- included diagnosis in medical rituals

The Egyptians mummified dead bodies.

• Human body- be needed by person in afterlife & material possesions were important
• Preserved bodies & etombing them with grave goods
• Prepared by- extracting soft organs (eg brain) & dried what remained with salt
• This Egyptians some knowledge of anatomy
• Destroying a body- wouldn't go to afterlife- so no experimental dissection- limited info
• Egyptian papyrus- 1600BC outlined simple surgical procedures
• Carvings in temple of Kom Ombo (100BC)- show surgical instruments
• Willow- used after surgery- treat wounds- contains salicylic acid (mild antiseptic & original source of asprin)

Non- spiritual causes for illness were suggested.

• River Nile- body was full of channels
• Blocked channels led to disease- use vomiting, purging (laxatives) & bleeding to clear 
• Such treatments may have worked in some cases
• Ideas- weren't accepted by all & people didn't abandon spiritual explanantions
• Knew diet was important- medical procedured included recommended foods

The Egyptians kept themselves clean.

• Valued cleanlieness- bathed, shaved heads, had toilets & reguarly changed clothes
• In Climate- made life more comfortable but hygiene appears to have religious significance
• Priests washed more & shaved whole bodies before important ceremonies
• Had toilets- didn't have water few sewers- emptied manually
• Developed mosquito nets- protection against malaria