1990/12/19 by R. Ted Steinbock · 2 citations
Arts and Humanities · #Ancient Egypt and Archaeology
paper · doi:10.1001/jama.1990.03450230110044
openalex publication_date 1990/12/19 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
Our knowledge of ancient Egyptian medicine is predominantly from the various medical papyri formulated between 1550 BC and 300 AD. Dr Estes provides a very readable and informative account of the medical and surgical skills of the physicians treating a variety of diseases and disorders. Ancient Egyptian physicians were actually divided among magicians, priests, and lay members called<i>swnw</i>. They shared a common magicoreligious and empirical tradition relying on spells, amulets, sanctified water, and dream revelation. The author presents an excellent synopsis of ancient Egyptian concepts of sickness and healing. As a pharmacologist and medical historian, Estes is uniquely qualified to evaluate the extensive Egyptian materia medica. He found that over 70% of the extant recipes were for topical use. The largest number of medicines were prescribed for disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, followed by skin and hair, bones and joints, and eyes. A valuable glossary of drug substances is