Describe and discuss the Ebers medical papyrus and the Edwin Smith Research Paper

Describe and discuss the Ebers medical papyrus and the Edwin Smith papyrus. When and how were they found What do they contain - Research Paper Example The main study of these papyri was conducted in Berlin in the year between1954-1973 (Atta and Hussein 123). The Ebers papyrus has haphazard collection of medical texts which are organized in paragraphs which are arranged in blocks and thus addressing specific medical conditions. It contains the most voluminous medical record of the ancient Egypt known. The proof that diseases healed from magical spells, were not available in the papyrus. Issues regarding the supernatural intervention in relation to treatment and diagnosis are highlighted in paragraphs (David and Rosalie 124). Diseases discussed by the Ebers papyrus include; disease of the stomach such as intestinal parasites, anus diseases, skin diseases, head diseases, treatment of migraines, flow of urine, hair, flesh wounds and burns and extremities of the disorders (Bonn and Kitty 45). From the Edwin Smith Papyrus, we are able to point out that, they were able to treat fractured and dislocated bones. From this again we find out t hat they too treated dislocated bones and performed minor surgical procedures. On the same note, they were able to treat diseases in physical manner. However, alongside this physical treatment, they accompanied it with spiritual practices. According, to Edwin Smith Papyrus, much of the treatment involved crushing and mixing of herbs. Diseases addressed by Edwin Smith Papyrus include: tongue diseases, conditions related to dermatology, dental diseases, ear diseases, throat and nose diseases and gynecological disorders. There are also discussions regarding the diagnosis of pregnancy, treatment of tumors, trachoma, birth control and fractures (David and Rosalie 89). About seven hundred magical formulas their remedies are also contained. The papyrus notes that the heart serves as the centre of the supply of blood with the attachment of vessels to other parts of the body. Seemingly the Egyptians did know little about the kidneys and assumed the heart to be the meeting point vessels carry ing body fluids such as blood, urine, tears, and sperm. The chapter known as the Book of Hearts gives details about the mental disorders. Dementia and depression are equally covered (Haas 90). The Ancient Egyptians, like the Ancient Greeks and the Romans, have provided modern historians with grounded knowledge and evidence towards medicine and sufficient knowledge on the medical field. This evidence is particularly based on the many papyrus found in the archaeological sites. This is like in the history of man, where some of these beliefs of the Egyptians were based; myths and legends. This should not however, be disputed with the increase of knowledge of the Egyptian people who exceedingly grew in human anatomy and plain commonsense. In the Ancient Egypt the treatment of illness was no longer carried out by the common magicians and medicine men, because knowledge of diseases and their curing method had already developed. This is supported by the archaeological evidences available in the papyri (refers to physicians and doctors). This is particularly amazing, in that there are archaeological digs that have added more evidence of men titled as physicians. This means that all the knowledge about the Ancient Egypt medicine comes from the discoveries of papyrus documents. Most of these papyrus documents have come from the era of 1900 BC and 1500 BC (White and Renee 45-67). This is the evidence to the common