Ancient Egypt: medicine and healing

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Even in ancient times by representatives of some civilizations have reached such heights in some areas of knowledge that even today it is difficult to believe.And some technological secrets of our ancestors are unknown to modern scholars.One such amazing civilization was ancient Egypt.Medicine, mathematics, astronomy, civil engineering reached a very high level there.And the subject of this article will be a specific medicine.

Ancient Egypt: medical and religious views

everything that is done here, it is inextricably linked to religious beliefs.In general, this situation is typical for many ancient civilizations.It was believed that medicine was the Egyptian god of wisdom Thoth brainchild, which has created for people 32 Hermetic books, six of which were devoted to the doctor's case.Unfortunately, the news of this storehouse of ancient knowledge came to us only indirect references.The works themselves were lost.

Ancient Egypt: medical and biological knowledge

In addition to these books, and knowledge of the biology and anatomy existed on papyrus.The most famous of them are papyri Smith and Ebers.They came to us from the middle of the II.BC.Ebers Papyrus contains general medical topics, instructions and recipes.The legacy of Smith describes valuable information about the treatment of bruises and wounds.In addition, archaeologists have also found some writings on gynecology and pediatrics.However, the medicine of ancient Egypt had and weaknesses.Despite the constant practice of autopsy and embalming the dead, the knowledge about the anatomy of the human body and its physiology is not got much development.This was primarily due to the existence of the set of prohibitions with respect to the dead body.They are significantly hampered its study.Actually, embalming is not even engaged doctors and some specialists, for which the body is not relevant from the point of view of the treatment of diseases.

Ancient Egypt: medicine and treatment of diseases

survived to modern texts that contain sufficiently complete information about the different diseases and methods of their treatment.At the same time hindered the development of medical notions of human ailments, which were based on the ideas of the universe in the patient's evil spirits.Among other reasons could also be poisoning and weather.Therefore, the most important component of treatment were magic rituals and incantations.The surgeon performs a simple procedure: the imposition of tires, reduction of dislocation.Yet diagnosis has been quite well developed.So, the Egyptians learned to determine the pulse in different arteries.We had a fairly complete picture of the circulation, aware of the importance of the heart.What's reached heights in ancient Egypt, it's pharmacology, exist in the form of various kinds of medicinal potions.It has been known for a large number of drugs.Find out their required doses for various diseases.For example, olive oil, castor oil, opium and saffron are used today.