PREHISTORIC AND PRIMITIVE MEDICINE

Assist.Prof.Dr. Mehmet KARATAŞ Department of History of Medicine and

Ethics

Findings/Evidences

Human mummy Human skeleton Statuary Wall / stone figures

USA, Kyphosis

Harelip/Stroke

France, 15.000-10.000 BC

Branches of Science

Archeology Paleontology Paleopathology Physical anthropology

Findings/Evidences

Evidences of infectious diseases, tuberculosis and parasitic infestations have been found in the tissues of mummies in Ancient Egypt

Evidences in teeth and bones; osteomyelitis, incorrect fracture union, trauma, spinal tuberculosis, bone tm

Decalcification, bone thickness, the bone growth

USA, Gold Teeth

Findings/Evidences

Bone deformities caused by syphilis Signs of rickets in northern regions Bile/kidney stones, congenital

anomalies Evidences of arteriosclerosis,

pneumonia, stones (kidney), parasites in Ancient Egyptian mummies

Lack of Evidences

There isn't enough information about prehistoric medicine

No evidence before 4000 BC

Spain, Fetus in the womb

Spain, Fetus in the womb

Life Span

Women live shorter than men(more birth, less food)

Men live longer than women

Çatalhöyük, 6500-5700 BC

Aztec Goddess (while giving birth)

The Basis of the Medical Practises

Diseases: A foreign power or a spirit takes control of the body with magic

Supernatural powers A combination of religion, magic and

medical treatment

USA, warts (verru)

USA, Statue of Elephantiasis

Prehistoric Treatment Methods

Fighting against diseases with magic(Appease the evil spirit or expelling)

Herbal treatment; fever reducers, diuretics, analgesics, sedatives, stimulants (curare, opium, cannabis, coca)

Massage Water vapor treatment Craniotomy, circumcision

Aztec Steam Bath

Trepanation in Neolithic Period in France

Expelling the evil spirit A real surgical intervention

France, Trepanation

USA, Trepanation

Trepanation

Europe Anatolia Caucasus Iran, Israel regions North Pacific islands South America

Trepanation Tools

Flint Volcanic obsidian Animal bones

Medical Applications

Various dances were performed in order to appease or expel the evil spirit

Masks, animal skins, drums… were used for this procedure

Absorption (snake bite), bottle drawing, blood flow, smoking

Finding guilty objects (Indians)

Medical Applications

Tourniquet to stop the bleeding, pressuring, cauterization

Amputation (usually/more for offerings)

Suture with sewing needles made of bone and tendon

Reduction of dislocations Fracture treatment (wooden hanger,

animal skin)

Medical Applications

Handicapped people were killed/protection

Mentally ill people were killed/excluded (Because it was the expression of the evil spirit)

The killing of the elderly in order to lighten their loads

Eskimos left their mother/father on ice

Medical People

Having mental illness is enough to be shaman in Amerindians and Siberians

Medicine, from father to son There also some female physicians Physicians protect from bad weather

conditions, loss of herd, bad harvest and all types of disaster

Their social political status is high Surgeries only do trepanation, blood

streaming, wound drainage. They don’t do other treatments.

Medical People

American Indian physician (expert magicians, snake bite, injury, herbal therapy)

Professional magicians in the Congo Siberian shaman has drum, hat,

mask and he intermediates spirits, predicts future events, says magical words

Konuyla İlgili SORU/CEVAP

Soru 1: Tarih öncesi dönemdeki tıbbi uygulamalara ait bulgular nereden elde edilmektedir?

Cevap 1: Mumyalaşmış cesetler, insan iskeletleri, figürler, duvar resimleri, heykeller

Soru 2: Tarih öncesi dönemde hastalıkların tedavisinde kullanılan yöntemler nelerdi?

Cevap 2: Büyü, bitkiler, masaj, su buharı, kraniyotomi, sünnet

References

A. Selim ATAY, İnönü Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, translation

Tolga GÜVEN, Marmara Üniversitesi Tıp Tarihi ve Etik AD ders notları

Ali Haydar BAYAT, Tıp Tarihi Emine ATABEK, Şefik GÖRKEY, Başlangıcından

Rönesansa Kadar Tıp Tarihi Çağlar Boyu Tıp, Roche Yayınları http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page