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REVIEW BY J PETER PHILLIPS
In contrast with previous works on this subject, which have focused exclusively on the remedies available to ancient Egyptian medical practitioners, this work also considers the subject from the viewpoint of the patient – a more people-based approach. The authors are uniquely qualified for the task: Professor Emerita Rosalie David spent a large part of her career studying the evidence for disease in mummies in the Manchester Museum’s collection, before founding the KNH Centre for Biomedical Egyptology, and Dr Roger Forshaw was a dental surgeon before embarking on his second career in Egyptology.
In an introductory chapter, which considers the ways in which the ancient Egyptians viewed disease, an important point is made. The belief in spirits, both benign and malign, was universal, so that the influence of evil spirits was blamed for the spread of infection, where no physical trauma was the obvious cause. The use of magical incantation, amulets, and other such devices could have comforted the patient, and therefore had a placebo effect.
The various providers of medical services throughout ancient Egyptian history are identified. The use and status of midwives and wet nurses is discussed, as is the way in which drugs were prepared and administered. Drawing on Dr Forshaw’s professional knowledge, the provision of dental treatment is included.
A short section of the book is given over to the role of the temple as a place of medical training, and as the location of sanatoria, but it is pointed out that most treatment took place ‘on location’ in homes, palaces, places of work, and battlefields.
The wide range of surgical procedures undertaken is listed, including infection control, suturing, anaesthesia, ophthalmology, circumcision, and trepanation. The types of surgical instruments available are discussed, and the methods of treatment of fractures, dislocations, and burns are covered. An interesting distinction is made between the enlightened Egyptian attitude to deformity and disability compared with that of neighbouring societies.
Careful attention is given by the authors to the ways in which the health of the population was affected by environmental conditions, such as a sand-laden atmosphere, parasitic infections from stagnant water, insanitary and unhealthy housing, and occupational hazards.
The book concludes with an analysis of the extent to which ancient Egyptian medicine influenced later medical practice via Graeco-Roman practitioners. It comes with an index and a comprehensive bibliography, and is well illustrated with black-and-white images and 34 colour plates.
It would be difficult to find any aspect of ancient Egyptian medicine that has not been covered by the authors, and this work deserves to be a standard textbook for many years to come, although its price may sadly deter potential readers.
Read more in an article by Rosalie David and Roger Forshaw ‘Ancient Egypt Surgery‘; and you can win a copy of the book in our photo competition.
Medicine and healing practices in Ancient Egypt
by Rosalie David and Roger Forshaw
LIVERPOOL UNIVERSITY PRESS, 2023
SBN 978-1-8376-4429-2
HARDBACK £88
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