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Edwin Smith papyrus
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Edwin Smith papyrus

Egyptian medical book
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Article History

Edwin Smith papyrus, (c. 1600 bc), ancient Egyptian medical treatise, believed to be a copy of a work dating from c. 3000 bc. Apparently intended as a textbook on surgery, it begins with clinical cases of head injuries and works systematically down the body, describing in detail examination, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis in each case. It reveals the ancient Egyptians’ knowledge of the relation of the pulse to the heart and of the workings of the stomach, bowels, and larger blood vessels. The papyrus was acquired in Luxor in 1862 by the American Edwin Smith, a pioneer in the study of Egyptian science. Upon his death in 1906, the papyrus was given to the New York Historical Society and turned over to U.S. Egyptologist James Henry Breasted in 1920 for study. A translation, transliteration, and discussion in two volumes was published by Breasted in 1930.