Besides containing instructions for midwives, it includes numerous formulæ for the treatment of various complaints, composed of such very homely articles as beer, cow’s milk, honey, oil, onions, herbs, dates, and other fruits. The _Ebers Papyrus_, which was found reposing between the legs of a mummy, throws a light on ancient Egyptian pharmacy, and was written in the reign of King Amenhotep I., of the eighteenth dynasty. It commences as follows: “Beginning of the chapter of applying medicaments to every part of the patient. “I have come forth from Heliopolis with the mighty ones of the Temple of the Sun, the wielders of protection, the princes of eternity. “Rescuing (?) I have come forth from Sais with the Mothers of the Gods, who have given me their protection. “I have magic formulæ made by the Universal Lord to drive out the stroke of god and goddess, the Male Death and Female Death, _et cetera_,[1] that is in this my head, in this my neck, in this my shoulder, in this my flesh, in these my limbs, to punish the above-named enchanters (?) who introduce disturbance into this my flesh.” [1] Etc. is probably a direction _ad lib._ for the doctor speaking the formulæ. Such formulæ, evidently for recitation during the treatment, continue for a page and a half. The book has thus no general title, but plunges at once into the mysteries of the profession. “Beginning of the mystery of the physician who knows the motion of the heart. There are vessels in it to every limb. When any physician, doctor, or amulet-maker puts his fingers upon the top of the head, upon the occiput, upon the hands, upon the chest, upon the arms, upon the legs, he communicates (?) with the heart, for its vessels extend to every limb, wherefore it is called the starting-point of every limb.” The following may be taken as an example of the recipes given in the manuscript:— “A remedy for the belly that is painful: Cummin 1∕64 hin, goose-grease 1∕8 hin, milk 1∕16 hekt; cool, strain, and drink”. The hin is about 29 cubic inches, and the 1∕16 hekt 18 cubic inches; the prescription is thus roundly 1∕2 cubic inch of cummin, and 4 of goose fat, in half a pint of milk.