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from The Healing Hand |
As I explain on the News page, The Healing Hand is packed with interesting
material about the ancient treatment of wounds. Here are some items specifically
concerning women:
The hieroglyph at left means Peseshet, the name of a Chief Woman Physician, an
unusual profession for an ancient Egyptian woman. Majno points out that
the social status of Egyptian women
could be powerful, even before Cleopatra.
He says "a subtle sign of this power is the possessive,
almost protective attitude of women in many Egyptian sculptures of couples,
in which the wife holds the husband
with both hands." (right)
This is a successful
caesarian section in 1879 closed with iron spikes and
thread. The Ugandan surgeon used banana
wine for anesthesia.
All pictures are reproduced from
The Healing Hand
©Harvard University Press, 1991
© 1997 Harry Finley. It is illegal to
reproduce or distribute this work in any manner or medium without written
permission of the author. Please report suspected violations to hfinley@mum.org