the evolution of modern medicine(现代医药的演变)-第5章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
tomb of Zoser； the first of a long series with which the Egyptian monarchy
sought 〃to adorn the coming bulk of death。〃 The design of this is attributed
13
… Page 14…
THE EVOLUTION OF MODERN MEDICINE
to Imhotep； the first figure of a physician to stand out clearly from the
mists of antiquity。 〃In priestly wisdom； in magic； in the formulation of
wise proverbs； in medicine and architecture； this remarkable figure of
Zoser's reign left so notable a reputation that his name was never forgotten；
and 2500 years after his death he had become a God of Medicine； in
whom the Greeks； who called him Imouthes； recognized their own
AEsculapius。〃＇3＇ He became a popular god； not only healing men when
alive； but taking good care of them in the journeys after death。 The facts
about this medicinae primus inventor； as he has been called； may be
gathered from Kurt Sethe's study。＇4＇ He seems to have corresponded very
much to the Greek Asklepios。 As a god he is met with comparatively late；
between 700 and 332 B。C。 Numerous bronze figures of him remain。 The
oldest memorial mentioning him is a statue of one of his priests； Amasis
（No。 14765 in the British Museum）。 Ptolemy V dedicated to him a temple
on the island of Philae。 His cult increased much in later days； and a special
temple was dedicated to him near Memphis Sethe suggests that the cult of
Imhotep gave the inspiration to the Hermetic literature。 The association of
Imhotep with the famous temple at Edfu is of special interest。
＇3＇ Breasted： A History of the Ancient Egyptians； Scribner； New York；
1908； p。 104。
＇4＇ K。 Sethe： Imhotep； der Asklepios der Aegypter； Leipzig； 1909
（Untersuchungen； etc。； ed。 Sethe； Vol。 II； No。 4）。
Egypt became a centre from which civilization spread to the other
peoples of the Mediterranean。 For long centuries； to be learned in all the
wisdom of the Egyptians meant the possession of all knowledge。 We must
come to the land of the Nile for the origin of many of man's most
distinctive and highly cherished beliefs。 Not only is there a magnificent
material civilization； but in records so marvellously preserved in stone we
may see； as in a glass； here clearly； there darkly； the picture of man's
search after righteousness； the earliest impressions of his moral awakening；
the beginnings of the strife in which he has always been engaged for social
justice and for the recognition of the rights of the individual。 But above all；
earlier and more strongly than in any other people； was developed the faith
that looked through death； to which； to this day； the noblest of their
14
… Page 15…
THE EVOLUTION OF MODERN MEDICINE
monuments bear an enduring testimony。 With all this； it is not surprising to
find a growth in the knowledge of practical medicine； but Egyptian
civilization illustrates how crude and primitive may remain a knowledge
of disease when conditioned by erroneous views of its nature。 At first； the
priest and physician were identified； and medicine never became fully
dissociated from religion。 Only in the later periods did a special group of
physicians arise who were not members of priestly colleges。＇6＇ Maspero
states that the Egyptians believed that disease and death were not natural
and inevitable； but caused by some malign influence which could use any
agency； natural or invisible； and very often belonged to the invisible world。
〃Often； though； it belongs to the invisible world； and only reveals itself by
the malignity of its attacks： it is a god； a spirit； the soul of a dead man； that
has cunningly entered a living person； or that throws itself upon him with
irresistible violence。 Once in possession of the body； the evil influence
breaks the bones； sucks out the marrow； drinks the blood； gnaws the
intestines and the heart and devours the flesh。 The invalid perishes
according to the progress of this destructive work； and death speedily
ensues； unless the evil genius can be driven out of it before it has
committed irreparable damage。 Whoever treats a sick person has therefore
two equally important duties to perform。 He must first discover the nature
of the spirit in possession； and； if necessary； its name； and then attack it；
drive it out； or even destroy it。 He can only succeed by powerful magic； so
he must be an expert in reciting incantations； and skilful in making
amulets。 He must then use medicine ＇drugs and diet＇ to contend with the
disorders which the presence of the strange being has produced in the
body。〃＇6＇
＇5＇ Maspero： Life in Ancient Egypt and Assyria； London； 1891； p。 119。
＇6＇ Maspero： Life in Ancient Egypt and Assyria； London； 1891； p。 118。
＇7＇ W。 Wreszinski： Die Medizin der alten Aegypter； Leipzig； J。 C。
Hinrichs； 1909…1912。
In this way it came about that diseases were believed to be due to
hostile spirits； or caused by the anger of a god； so that medicines； no
matter how powerful； could only be expected to assuage the pain； but
magic alone； incantations； spells and prayers； could remove the disease。
15
… Page 16…
THE EVOLUTION OF MODERN MEDICINE
Experience brought much of the wisdom we call empirical； and the
records； extending for thousands of years； show that the Egyptians
employed emetics； purgatives； enemata； diuretics； diaphoretics and even
bleeding。 They had a rich pharmacopoeia derived from the animal；
vegetable and mineral kingdoms。 In the later periods； specialism reached a
remarkable development； and Herodotus remarks that the country was full
of physicians；〃One treats only the diseases of the eye； another those of
the head； the teeth； the abdomen； or the internal organs。〃
Our knowledge of Egyptian medicine is derived largely from the
remarkable papyri dealing specially with this subject。 Of these； six or
seven are of the first importance。 The most famous is that discovered by
Ebers； dating from about 1500 B。C。 A superb document； one of the great
treasures of the Leipzig Library； it is 20。23 metres long and 30 centimetres
high and in a state of wonderful preservation。 Others are the Kahun； Berlin；
Hearst and British Museum papyri。 All these have now been published
the last three quite recently； edited by Wreszinski。＇7＇ I show here a
reproduction from which an idea may be had of these remarkable
documents。 They are motley collections； filled with incantations； charms；
magical formulae； symbols； prayers and prescriptions for all sorts of
ailments。 One is impressed by the richness of the pharmacopoeia； and the
high development which the art of pharmacy must have attained。 There
were gargles； salves； snuffs； inhalations； suppositories； fumigations；
enemata； poultices and plasters； and they knew the use of opium； hemlock；
the copper salts； squills and castor oil。 Surgery was n
