Manchester University Press
11 Trauma care, surgery and remedies in ancient Egypt
Abstract
The treatment of trauma and surgery in ancient Egypt witnessed the development of an elaborate clinical methodology. Today a reassessment of this methodology in the light of more recent studies can further our understanding of these two disciplines in this ancient culture. Breasted’s 1930 translation of the Edward Smith Papyrus was a landmark in understanding the treatment of trauma in ancient Egypt and now a translation by Sanchez and Meltzer in 2012 has provided a new insight into this important medical papyrus. However, certain areas of treatment such as amputations and sustained traction for fractures have not been identified in the textual sources, but recent palaeopathological evidence is able to provide some understanding of these procedures. Additionally, there are a number of problems associated with understanding the compounds and medicaments listed in the medical papyri that were used to treat various ailments. The composition of many of these remedies is unknown whilst others do not have the same composition as their modern equivalents. Some of these materials have proven pharmacological effects, but a number of others have often been dismissed as having no therapeutic value. Recent investigations into the constituents of the remedies demonstrate that materials once thought to be of no therapeutic value may have some benefits and therefore need to be reassessed.
Abstract
The treatment of trauma and surgery in ancient Egypt witnessed the development of an elaborate clinical methodology. Today a reassessment of this methodology in the light of more recent studies can further our understanding of these two disciplines in this ancient culture. Breasted’s 1930 translation of the Edward Smith Papyrus was a landmark in understanding the treatment of trauma in ancient Egypt and now a translation by Sanchez and Meltzer in 2012 has provided a new insight into this important medical papyrus. However, certain areas of treatment such as amputations and sustained traction for fractures have not been identified in the textual sources, but recent palaeopathological evidence is able to provide some understanding of these procedures. Additionally, there are a number of problems associated with understanding the compounds and medicaments listed in the medical papyri that were used to treat various ailments. The composition of many of these remedies is unknown whilst others do not have the same composition as their modern equivalents. Some of these materials have proven pharmacological effects, but a number of others have often been dismissed as having no therapeutic value. Recent investigations into the constituents of the remedies demonstrate that materials once thought to be of no therapeutic value may have some benefits and therefore need to be reassessed.
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Dedication v
- Contents vii
- List of figures x
- List of plates xviii
- List of tables xx
- Notes on contributors xxii
- Preface xxxi
- Rosalie David xxxiii
- My first meeting with Rosalie David xxxvi
-
Part I Pharaonic sacred landscapes
- 1 Go west 3
- 2 The Sacred Animal Necropolis at North Saqqara 19
- 3 The Manchester ‘funeral’ ostracon 32
- 4 The tomb of the ‘Two Brothers’ revisited 48
- 5 A review of the monuments of Unnefer, High Priest of Osiris at Abydos in the reign of Ramesses II 56
- 6 Thoughts on Seth the con-man 69
- 7 A Psamtek ushabti and a granite block from Sais (Sa el-Hager) 75
-
Part II Magico-medical practices in ancient Egypt
- 8 A most uncommon amulet 95
- 9 The sting of the scorpion 102
- 10 Magico-medical aspects of the mythology of Osiris 115
- 11 Trauma care, surgery and remedies in ancient Egypt 124
- 12 One and the same? 142
- 13 Bread and beer in ancient Egyptian medicine 157
- 14 On the function of ‘healing’ statues 169
- 15 Writings for good health in social context 183
- 16 Schistosomiasis, ancient and modern 197
- 17 An unusual funerary figurine of the early 18th Dynasty 210
-
Part III Understanding Egyptian mummies
- 18 The biology of ancient Egyptians and Nubians 245
- 19 Further thoughts on Tutankhamun’s death and embalming 256
- 20 Proving Herodotus and Diodorus? 265
- 21 Science in Egyptology 279
- 22 Slices of mummy 292
- 23 Life and death in the desert 302
- 24 An investigation into the evidence of age-related osteoporosis in three Egyptian mummies 321
- 25 The International Ancient Egyptian Mummy Tissue Bank 333
- 26 The enigma of the Red Shroud mummies 344
- 27 The evolution of imaging ancient Egyptian animal mummies at the University of Manchester, 1972–2014 361
- 28 Eaten by maggots 371
-
Part IV Science and experimental approaches in Egyptology
- 29 Scientific studies of pharaonic remains 387
- 30 Education, innovation and preservation 403
- 31 Making an ancient Egyptian contraceptive 416
- 32 Iron from the sky 424
- 33 A bag-style tunic found on the Manchester Museum mummy 1770 440
- 34 ‘Palmiform’ columns 451
- 35 Scientific evaluation of experiments in Egyptian archaeology 462
- 36 Snake busters 477
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Dedication v
- Contents vii
- List of figures x
- List of plates xviii
- List of tables xx
- Notes on contributors xxii
- Preface xxxi
- Rosalie David xxxiii
- My first meeting with Rosalie David xxxvi
-
Part I Pharaonic sacred landscapes
- 1 Go west 3
- 2 The Sacred Animal Necropolis at North Saqqara 19
- 3 The Manchester ‘funeral’ ostracon 32
- 4 The tomb of the ‘Two Brothers’ revisited 48
- 5 A review of the monuments of Unnefer, High Priest of Osiris at Abydos in the reign of Ramesses II 56
- 6 Thoughts on Seth the con-man 69
- 7 A Psamtek ushabti and a granite block from Sais (Sa el-Hager) 75
-
Part II Magico-medical practices in ancient Egypt
- 8 A most uncommon amulet 95
- 9 The sting of the scorpion 102
- 10 Magico-medical aspects of the mythology of Osiris 115
- 11 Trauma care, surgery and remedies in ancient Egypt 124
- 12 One and the same? 142
- 13 Bread and beer in ancient Egyptian medicine 157
- 14 On the function of ‘healing’ statues 169
- 15 Writings for good health in social context 183
- 16 Schistosomiasis, ancient and modern 197
- 17 An unusual funerary figurine of the early 18th Dynasty 210
-
Part III Understanding Egyptian mummies
- 18 The biology of ancient Egyptians and Nubians 245
- 19 Further thoughts on Tutankhamun’s death and embalming 256
- 20 Proving Herodotus and Diodorus? 265
- 21 Science in Egyptology 279
- 22 Slices of mummy 292
- 23 Life and death in the desert 302
- 24 An investigation into the evidence of age-related osteoporosis in three Egyptian mummies 321
- 25 The International Ancient Egyptian Mummy Tissue Bank 333
- 26 The enigma of the Red Shroud mummies 344
- 27 The evolution of imaging ancient Egyptian animal mummies at the University of Manchester, 1972–2014 361
- 28 Eaten by maggots 371
-
Part IV Science and experimental approaches in Egyptology
- 29 Scientific studies of pharaonic remains 387
- 30 Education, innovation and preservation 403
- 31 Making an ancient Egyptian contraceptive 416
- 32 Iron from the sky 424
- 33 A bag-style tunic found on the Manchester Museum mummy 1770 440
- 34 ‘Palmiform’ columns 451
- 35 Scientific evaluation of experiments in Egyptian archaeology 462
- 36 Snake busters 477
