1. Mesopotamian Medicine
Yashveer Singh
Mrs. Fellows
Social Studies, Pd. 6
7 January 2009

2. Background 660 tablets at Ashurbanipal Library
Descriptions of practices, prescriptions
Spirits, supernatural forces, and malfunctioning organs
Ancient Mesopotamians used a variety of remedies for their illnesses. They either resorted to magic tricks or herbal remedies. A large collection of tablets describing these practices and prescribing medicines were found at the Ashurbanipal library in Nineveh. Spirits (gods and ghosts), supernatural forces, and malfunctioning organs were blamed for diseases and sickness. Also, it was believed that bad deeds could cause an illness. An ashipu would use the magic tricks and an asu would use the herbal remedies and pastes.

3. Ashipu “sorcerer” “The hand of” was used to identify spirit
Found out if sickness was result of deeds
Enchantments that forced spirits out
Could refer to asu
An ashipu was the “sorcerer”. It was similar to a shaman of more recent times. They used enchantments and spells to force the spirits that were causing the sickness out. Each spirit was responsible for one part of the body. An ashipu would use the phrase, “The Hand of,” before the name of the spirit that was causing the sickness. For example, “The Hand of Bill” could be a used to identify a spirit named Bill. An ashipu would also try to find out if the illness was the result of a deed or deeds. An ashipu could refer an ill person to an asu, or the “physician.”

4. Asu “physician” Herbal remedies Used some current techniques
Bandages, washing, plasters
Plasters=ingredient mixture held by bandages
An asu would be called a “physician” today. They worked with herbal remedies. An asu used some techniques that people in the modern world use, such as bandages, washing, and making plasters. Plasters are mixtures of ingredients put on a wound which were commonly held in place by a bandage. A complicated plaster required heating plant resin with alkali or animal fat. This created a soap which helped block bacteria. Asus and ashipus could work together to treat a patient.

5. Hammurabai’s Code 282 laws Contained laws about surgeons
Doctors were accountable for fails and errors in surgery
Only mentions liability with “use of a knife”
Other non-surgical doctors were not punished for fails
Liabilites/compensations determined by patient’s social status
If slave was failed during surgery, doctor would have to pay price of slave
If slave was saved, surgeon was only paid two shekels
If a high class was failed, doctor risked removal of hand
If saved, doctor was paid 10 SHEKELS
Hammurabai’s code was a set of 282 laws that addressed four groups, including surgeons. It was displayed in a public place (a temple), so that nobody could say that they didn’t know about this or that. The laws in the Code only mentioned liability with the “use of a knife.” In other words, surgeons were the only doctors at risk. They were accountable for an fail or error in surgery. Liabilities and compensations were determined by the patient’s social status. If a slave was killed or permanently injured during surgery, the doctor would only have to pay the price of the slave. If a slave was saved, the surgeon was only paid two shekels. If a patient of high status was failed, doctor risked the cutting of his hand. If a person of high status was saved, 10 SHEKELS was paid to the doctor, compared to two shekels if a slave was saved.

6. Specific Remedies
Leishmaniasis treatment =vegetable oils and animal fats
To treat swelling of tongue, dry tamarisk leaves, leaves of “adaru-plant”, leaves of “fox-grape plant”, and “dog’s-tongue plant”
Chop finely
Sift
Knead with kasu-plant juice
Rub top of tongue with butter, then apply medicine
To remove pus of pneumonia victims, make hole in “fourth rib” ( with a knife
To treat skin diseases like leishmaniasis, you would apply a mixture of animal fat and vegetable oil. To treat the swelling of the tongue, you can dry tamarisk leaves, the leaves of an “adaru-plant,” the leaves of the “fox-grape plant,” and the “dog’s-tongue plant.” You would chop them finely, sift them, and knead them with “kasu-plant” juice. You would rub the top of the tongue with butter, and then apply the medicine. To remove the pus that occasionally forms between the chest and lungs, you would make a hole in the “fourth rib” with a “flint knife” (

7. Change in Medicine More technology (x-rays, CAT scans, EKG’s, etc.)
More discoveries
Extreme specialization
Microscopes
More hospitals
Medicine has changed a lot in the past few thousand years. First, there is an incredible amount of technology compared to Mesopotamian times. We now have x-rays, CAT scans, and EKG’s to help doctors and surgeons determine the illness and prescribe a medication. Also, in the past fifty years or so, many breakthroughs and discoveries have helped medicine to a higher level. We have now discovered DNA (for mutations), penicillin, and we have found out about diseases like AIDS, which would help doctors find the cause of some illnesses and to prescribe medications. The electron microscope is also a key discovery in medicine. It is extremely powerful and helps doctors see very small viruses, which helps to find an anti-viral. This age has also seen the founding of many hospitals who have doctors that spend years and years trying to discover a medicine or a cure. This would definitely trigger a change. Speaking of hospitals, humans today have extreme specializations like neurosurgeons, cardio-thoracic surgeons, pediatric doctors, etc. This allows for more dedication to a specific body part to find a specific medicine for that part.

8. Ancient Bandages made from animal skins and plant material
made from animal skins and plant material
Treated with cedar, ginger, etc.
Prehistoric bandages were probably made from animal skins and plant material. When used to clean wounds, they were treated with antiseptics like cedar and ginger. Bandages were also used to hold on plasters.

9. Bibliography
"Assyrian and Babylonian medicine was surprisingly advanced." Who are Christians of Iraq? Web. 13 Jan <
"Bandages and Dressings - used, body, plant, The Modern Bandage." Medical Discoveries. Web. 13
Jan <
"History of Iran: History of ancient Medicine in Mesopotamia & Iran." Iran Chamber Society. Web. 14 Dec < ancient_medicine_mesopotamia_iran.php>.
"MEDICINE IN ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA." Indiana University. Web. 14 Dec
<
Biggs, Robert. “Medicine, Surgery, and Public Health in Ancient Mesopotamia.”
Jaas.org. 14 December