Edwin Smith Papyrus, Oldest Known Surgical Treatise
Case Six from the Edwin Smith Surgical Papyrus, circa 1600 B.C. This document is written in hieratic, a cursive version of simplified hierogylphs. The case describes a gaping wound in the head with compound committed fracture of the skull and rupture of the meningeal membranes. This case is the first mention of the brain and its envelope in any medical document. The unknown surgeon describes the wound as an ailment not to be treated. Edwin Smith purchased the papyrus in Thebes in 1862. It remained at the New York Historical Society until James Breasted of the Orient al Institute of Chicago deciphered and translated it as a series of clinical presentations in the1920s. (Quoted caption text from The Edwin Smith Surgical Papyrus, by J. Breasted, University of Chicago, 1930.)
Pick your License
Restrictions Only for Ireland and United Kingdom
1600 Brain Breasted Clinical Cursive Description Descriptive Egyptology Fracture Hieratic Hieroglyph Hieroglyphic Instruction Instructional Language Oldest Papyrus Pathology Simplified Surgery Surgical Textbook Treatise
Features In These Collections
> Contributors > PHR
