The Evolution of Modern Medicine: A Series of Lectures Delivered at Yale University on the Silliman Foundation in April, 1913Osler, William, Sir
History
The Evolution of Modern Medicine: A Series of Lectures Delivered at Yale University on the Silliman Foundation in April, 1913
Osler, William, Sir
Medicine -- History
influence of the starres, which give the truest and most certain light
of things to come. Being thus wholly possessed of men, and having their
senses and understanding by this meanes fast ynough bound with three
sure chains, no marvell if this art grew in processe of time to such
an head, that it was and is at this day reputed by most nations of
the earth for the paragon and cheefe of all sciences: insomuch as
the mightie kings and monarchs of the Levant are altogether ruled and
governed thereby."
(9) Breasted: Development of Religion and Thought in
Ancient Egypt, New York, 1912, p. 84.
(10) The Historie of the World, commonly called the Naturall
Historie of C. Plinius Secundus, translated into English by
Philemon Holland, Doctor in Physieke, London, 1601, Vol. II,
p. 371, Bk. XXX, Chap. I, Sect. 1.
The second world-wide practice which finds its earliest record among
the Egyptians is the use secretions and parts of the animal body as
medicine. The practice was one of great antiquity with primitive man,
but the papyri already mentioned contain the earliest known records.
Saliva, urine, bile, faeces, various parts of the body, dried and
powdered, worms, insects, snakes were important ingredients in the
pharmacopoeia. The practice became very widespread throughout the
ancient world. Its extent and importance may be best gathered from
chapters VII and VIII in the 28th book of Pliny's "Natural History."
Several remedies are mentioned as derived from man; others from the
elephant, lion, camel, crocodile, and some seventy-nine are prepared
from the hyaena. The practice was widely prevalent throughout the
Middle Ages, and the pharmacopoeia of the seventeenth and even of the
eighteenth century contains many extraordinary ingredients. "The Royal
Pharmacopoeia" of Moses Charras (London ed., 1678), the most scientific
work of the day, is full of organotherapy and directions for the
preparation of medicines from the most loathsome excretions. A curious
thing is that with the discoveries of the mummies a belief arose as to
the great efficacy of powdered mummy in various maladies. As Sir Thomas
Browne remarks in his "Urn Burial": "Mummy has become merchandize.
Mizraim cures wounds, and Pharaoh is sold for balsams."
One formula in everyday use has come to us in a curious way from the
Egyptians. In the Osiris myth, the youthful Horus loses an eye in his
battle with Set. This eye, the symbol of sacrifice, became, next to the
sacred beetle, the most common talisman of the country, and all museums
are rich in models of the Horus eye in glass or stone.
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