These surgical tools included forceps, hooks, spoons, measuring rods or graduated cubits, bone saws, shears, and even drills. In performing certain surgical procedures, ancient Egyptians had a number of tools at their disposal. Gold bridges were also found on some mummies, but it is disputed whether these were applied before or after the individual’s death. They also provided recipes to treat bad breath and for mouthwashes meant for pain relief and tooth health. His tomb was inscribed with the phrase, “the greatest of those who deal with teeth and of physicians.” Early Egyptians performed surgeries such as draining abscesses and extracting teeth. in regard to a scribe of Djoser named Hesy-Re, who was the first known dentist in Memphis, Egypt. The earliest recorded reference to a dental practitioner was in 2600 B.C. Dentistryĭental practices can be traced back to ancient Egypt as well. In addition, the chanting of incantations or the use of amulets and other sacred jewelry could also be recommended along with medical treatment methods. This would often include, for example, prayers to the goddess of healing and medicine, who was known as Sekhmet. Physicians and priests would use magic and religion during the treatment process to help drive illness away.

Because Egyptians often believed that evil spirits also played a role in illness, magic and medicine would often overlap. The Egyptians’ knowledge and use of non-surgical treatment and herbal remedies were just part of the way that physicians would treat people who had an illness. For information on current medical negligence law, look here. Although they played a significant role in administering care, neither profession received any formal medical training. While midwives were female, nurses could be of either gender. Doctors had the help of nurses and midwives when needed. People with treatable injuries received medical treatment, while untreatable injuries would not receive care at all. Contestable injuries were simply observed but not treated by a physician, as they were not life-threatening. When treating individuals, they would separate types of injuries that were treatable, untreatable, and contestable. A physician who practiced medicine at the time was part of a hierarchy and would be considered a regular doctor, a senior doctor, an inspector, or an overseer. Physicians could study at schools held in a temple called a House of Life. as the chief physician to the royal court. Additionally, both men and women were allowed to be doctors, with Merit-Ptah being the first known female physician in history, serving in 2700 B.C. Medical practitioners in ancient Egypt could be priests, scribes, physicians, or healers. It generally sees the womb as the source of problems that affect the entire body. The papyrus does not suggest detail the prognosis of any case and only suggests non-surgical treatments such as scented oils, massage, and fumigation.

It consists of 34 sections, each of which addresses a specific problem. The Kahun Papyrus, which dates back to 1850-1700 B.C., also goes by the name Lahun Medical Papyrus, and it is one of the oldest known Egyptian texts. The first known reference to diabetes is also thought to have been made in the Ebers Papyrus in reference to the “passing of too much urine.” The papyrus also documents mental health issues such as depression and dementia as well as information about asthma, intestinal parasites, and contraception. This depiction of the heart was not entirely accurate, however, as it did mistakenly suggest that the heart was the center for all fluids in the body. Dating back to 1550 B.C., the papyrus also offers folk and herbal remedies and gives descriptions of the heart and the circulatory system in general. The Ebers Papyrus, which was purchased in 1873 by the German novelist and Egyptologist George Maurice Ebers, focuses heavily on spells and magical formulas. There are 48 cases discussed in the papyrus, and it is thought to contain the first recorded use of the word “brain.” Although it’s dated around 1600 B.C., the actual text is often credited to Imhotep. It is named after the Egyptologist and collector who purchased it in 1862, and it is considered to be the oldest surviving ancient scientific text. The Edwin Smith Papyrus is focused on surgical trauma and procedures and includes details on immobilizing the head, the use of stitches and plasters, and surgical dressings such as grease and honey. Some of the more common papyri are the Edwin Smith Papyrus, the Ebers Papyrus, and the Kahun Gynecological Papyrus. Evidence of ancient Egyptian medicine and its use to treat certain problems was documented in a number of papyri.

Map of papyrus ancient egypt