Thursday, September 08, 2005

Secrets of the Pharaohs' Physicians Revealed

A fascinating discussion of some of the medicinal practises of ancient Egypt, published to coincide with the new Art of Medicine in Ancient Egypt exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York: "A doctor is called to the house of a young man with a severe wound on his cheek. The flesh is split open, red and inflamed. After assessing the damage, the doctor applies a special enzymatic cleanser to the affected area, then covers it in a bandage soaked in an antibacterial compound, to reduce the risk of infection. Chances are, the man will make a complete recovery. While this course of treatment may sound modern, the doctor in question lived and practiced almost 4,000 years ago, in an ancient Egypt where skilled medicine worked hand-in-hand with magic potions and incantations to the lion-headed goddess Sekhmet".
See the article for more.

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