Edwin Smith Papyrus
Edwin Smith Papyrus
Edwin Smith Papyrus (pronunciation: Ed-win Smith Pa-py-rus, etymology: Named after Edwin Smith, the American collector who purchased the papyrus) is an ancient Egyptian medical text and the oldest known surgical treatise on trauma. This document, which may have been a manual of military surgery, describes 48 cases of injuries, fractures, wounds, dislocations and tumors.
History
The Edwin Smith Papyrus was written in the 17th century BCE in Hieratic script, a cursive writing system used in the Pharaonic period of Egypt. However, the knowledge contained within the text may date back to as early as 3000-2500 BCE. The papyrus was purchased in Luxor, Egypt in 1862 by Edwin Smith, an American collector of antiquities.
Content
The Edwin Smith Papyrus is unique among the four principal medical papyri in existence that survive today. While other papyri, such as the Ebers Papyrus and London Medical Papyrus, are medical texts based in magic, the text of the Edwin Smith Papyrus presents a rational and scientific approach to medicine in ancient Egypt. The papyrus includes 48 case histories, starting at the top of the body and working downwards, with treatment details.
Significance
The Edwin Smith Papyrus is of great significance in the history of medicine. It is thought to reflect the most sophisticated medical system of the Ancient World and provides the earliest known reference to the brain, revealing that the ancient Egyptians had a basic understanding of the brain and its structure.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Edwin Smith Papyrus
- Wikipedia's article - Edwin Smith Papyrus
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