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Medicine in Ancient Egypt, from “The History of Medicine”

Robert Thom

Artwork Details

Medicine in Ancient Egypt, from “The History of Medicine”
circa 1952
Robert Thom
oil on canvas
4 ft. 4 13/16 in. x 44 13/16 in. (133.99 x 113.67 cm)
From the collection of Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Gift of Pfizer, Inc.
UMHS.1

Description

George A. Bender, Parke-Davis pharmacist, composed the following label text: An Egyptian physician of the Eighteenth Century (1500-1400 B.C.), clothed in clean white linen and a wig, as became the dignity of his status, is confronted with a patient having symptoms of lockjaw (described in an ancient scroll now known as the Edwin Smith papyrus). With sure, sympathetic hands, the physician treats the patient, who is supported by a "brick chair." Directions for treatment appear on the scroll held by his assistant. Specially trained priests observe prescribed magico-religious rites. Egyptian medicine occupied a dominant position in the world of the ancients for 2500 years.

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