History of MedicineHistory of Medicine

Medicine Before the Medicine Before the GreeksGreeks

A Brief History of Medicine: A Brief History of Medicine: Doc, I Have an EaracheDoc, I Have an Earache

2000 BCE: Here, eat this root2000 BCE: Here, eat this root

1000 BCE: That root is heathen, say this prayer1000 BCE: That root is heathen, say this prayer

1850 CE: Prayer is superstition, drink this potion1850 CE: Prayer is superstition, drink this potion

1930 CE: That potion is snake oil, swallow this pill1930 CE: That potion is snake oil, swallow this pill

1970 CE: That pill is ineffective, take this antibiotic1970 CE: That pill is ineffective, take this antibiotic

2000 CE: That antibiotic is artificial, eat this root2000 CE: That antibiotic is artificial, eat this root

Course ThemesCourse Themes

Medical history of humanityMedical history of humanity

How medical history has changedHow medical history has changed

History of health professionsHistory of health professions

Interconnections between medicine Interconnections between medicine and societyand society

Prehistoric Evidence of Disease Prehistoric Evidence of Disease StatesStates

Primarily skeletalPrimarily skeletal Interpretation of findings must be Interpretation of findings must be

done with caredone with care

Degenerative ChangesDegenerative Changes

OsteoarthritisOsteoarthritis

Developmental DeformitiesDevelopmental Deformities

ClubfootClubfoot

Developmental DeformitiesDevelopmental Deformities

DwarfismDwarfism

InfectionsInfections

LeprosyLeprosy

InfectionsInfections

SyphilisSyphilis

NeoplasmsNeoplasms

Bone CancerBone Cancer

InjuriesInjuries

Skull fractureSkull fracture

Deficiency DiseasesDeficiency Diseases

RicketsRickets

SurgerySurgery

TrephinationTrephination

Transition to Agricultural Transition to Agricultural LifestyleLifestyle

Transformation in human medical Transformation in human medical historyhistory

Increased risk of infectionsIncreased risk of infections– CrowdingCrowding– Increased exposure to animalsIncreased exposure to animals– Increased production of wasteIncreased production of waste– Attraction for rodents, insectsAttraction for rodents, insects

New Infectious DiseasesNew Infectious Diseases

TuberculosisTuberculosis MeaslesMeasles Common coldCommon cold PolioPolio SalmonellaSalmonella

Rise of CitiesRise of Cities

Increased crowdingIncreased crowding Advent of crowd diseasesAdvent of crowd diseases Importation of disease along trade Importation of disease along trade

routesroutes

Increased Social StratificationIncreased Social Stratification

Scribes and officialsScribes and officials HealersHealers Differential impacts on health related Differential impacts on health related

to socio-economic statusto socio-economic status

Evidence About Human Health Evidence About Human Health from Artifactsfrom Artifacts

Written documentsWritten documents– Papyri (Egypt)Papyri (Egypt)– Clay tablets (Mesopotamia)Clay tablets (Mesopotamia)

MummiesMummies

Smallpox identified Smallpox identified in the mummy of in the mummy of Ramses IIRamses II

StatuesStatues

Tuberculosis Tuberculosis depicted in a depicted in a statuettestatuette

CarvingsCarvings

Depiction of an Depiction of an individual who had individual who had contracted ? Polio contracted ? Polio in a relief carvingin a relief carving

CarvingsCarvings

Circumcision Circumcision depicted in relief depicted in relief carvingcarving

Early Greek MedicineEarly Greek Medicine

HomerHomer AsclepiusAsclepius Rise of temples Rise of temples

devoted to healthdevoted to health

General Insights into MedicineGeneral Insights into Medicinein the Ancient World in the Ancient World

Well developed skillsWell developed skills Not based on theory as we Not based on theory as we

understand itunderstand it Seamless integration of medicine, Seamless integration of medicine,

magic, & religionmagic, & religion Transmission of knowledge between Transmission of knowledge between

generations of practitionersgenerations of practitioners

What’s Missing?What’s Missing?