Ancient Egyptian Medicine
Books / Hardcover
Books › Medical › Alternative Medicine
ISBN: 0806128313 / Publisher: Univ of Oklahoma Pr, April 1996
Retired anesthesiologist and member of the Egypt Exploration Society, Nunn translates and reviews original Egyptian medical papyri; integrates evidence from skeletons, mummies, statues, tomb paintings, and coffins; and evaluates the medical practice of ancient Egypt in terms of modern medical thought. He also explores the role of spells, incantations, and other aspects of magic and religion. An extensive compilation and interpretation of material. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.
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The skills of the ancient Egyptians in preserving bodies through mummification are well known, but their expertise in the everyday medical practices needed to treat the living is less familiar and often misinterpreted. John F. Nunn draws on his own experience as an eminent doctor of medicine and an Egyptologist to reassess the evidence. He has translated and reviewed the original Egyptian medical papyri and has reconsidered other sources of information, including skeletons, mummies, statues, tomb paintings and coffins.Illustrations highlight symptoms of similar conditions in patients ancient and modern, and the criteria by which the Egyptian doctors made their diagnoses - many still valid today - are evaluated in the light of current medical knowledge. In addition, an appendix listing all known named doctors contains previously unpublished additions from newly translated texts. Spells and incantations and the relationship of magic and religion to medical practice are also explored.Incorporating the most recent insights of modern medicine and Egyptology, the result is the most comprehensive and authoritative general book to be published on this fascinating subject for many years.
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