Diabetes and the Ebers Papyrus 1552 B.C

HISTORICAL NOTE

Diabetes and The Ebers Papyrus 1552 B.C.

D. Lynn Loriaux, MD, PhD

he Ebers Papyrus was found be- single phrase: “...to eliminate urine urine. The patients never stop making wa- Ttween the legs of a mummy in the which is too plentiful.” ter, but the flow is incessant, as if the Assissif district of the Theben necropo- “Unfortunately, the crucial word, opening of aqua ducts. Life is too short, lis. The exact tomb of origin is un- asha, can mean both ‘plentiful’ and ‘of- disgusting, and painful, thirst unquench- known, and it is not recorded that the ten,’ and it is unclear whether the con- able, excessive drinking, which, however, tomb suggested that the occupant was a dition described was polyuria (increased is disproportionate to the large quantity of physician. The Papyrus was purchased volume of urine) or increased frequency urine, for more urine is passed; and one in Lexor by Edwin Smith in 1862, who of micturition, very often due to cystitis. cannot stop them either from drinking or sold it to George Ebers, a well-respected The latter condition is much more com- making water; or, if for a time they abstain Egyptologist in 1872. Ebers published a mon and therefore the more likely inter- from drinking, their mouth becomes facsimile in English and Latin in 1875. pretation.”1 parched and their body dry, the viscera It is believed to be the oldest preserved The medicine of the Egyptians seems as if scorched up; they are affected medical document dating from 1552 was referred to by the Greeks as essen- with nausea, restlessness, and burning B.C. The Papyrus is 30 cm in height and tially conservative, ie, without innova- thirst, and at no distant term they expire.”7 20.23 m (66Ј4Љ) in length. The Papyrus tion from the medicine of the early dy- This is truly the first accurate de- is divided into 110 pages. It is written in nasties. Herdotus wrote that “medicine scription of the disease and, at least for the hieratic script. It contains chapters is practiced among them on a plan of me, represents the first clear recognition on helminthiasis, ophthalmology, der- separation; each physician treats a single of the disease. Nonetheless, the Ebers matology, gynecology, obstetrics, den- disease, and not more; thus the country Papyrus is a most riveting document tistry, and surgery. There is a short abounds with physicians, some under- revealing an astonishing medical sophis- section on psychiatry, describing a “de- taking to cure the diseases of the eyes, tication in the Nile River Valley 3500 spondency” that seems very close to our others of the head, others again of the years ago. concept of depression. More than 700 teeth, others of the intestine and some of magical formulas, including incanta- those which are internal.”6 REFERENCES tions and folk remedies, are described. Galen and Hippocrates both refer 1. Nunn JF. Ancient Egyptian Medicine. U. Oleln Of great interest to endocrinologists is Press; 1996. to a period of study at the temple of 2. Papaspyros NS. The History of Diabetes Mel- the opinion that in the Ebers, Papyrus is Imhotep in Memphis. Interestingly, in litus. Stuttgart: Georg Theme Verlag; 1964. the first known medical reference to di- their subsequent writings, neither refers 3. Barach JH. Historical facts in diabetes. Annals abetes mellitus. The reference is to a to diabetes in a way we would consider of Medical History. 1928;36:324–326. sufficient to describe the disease. Their 4. Sandars LJ. The Philalelic History of Diabetes: In Search of a Cure in Alexandria. American From the Department of Internal Medicine, Oregon descriptions do not go beyond that con- Diabetes Association; 2001. Health Sciences University, L-607, 3181 S.W. tained in the Ebers Papyrus. 5. Major RH. A History of Medicine, vol 1. Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97201. Then, circa 100 A.D., appears the Springfield: Charles C. Thomas;, 1954. E-mail: [email protected]. description by Aretaeos of Kappadokia. 6. Medvei VC. A History of Endocrinology. Lan- Copyright © 2006 by Lippincott Williams & caster: MTP Press Limited; 1982:20. Wilkins “Diabetes is a wonderful affliction, 7. Aretaeos the Kappadokia: The Extant Works. ISSN: 1051-2144/06/1602-0055 not very frequent among men, being a Edited and translated by Adams F. London; DOI: 10.1097/01.ten.0000202534.83446.69 melting down of the flesh and limbs into 1856.

The Endocrinologist • Volume 16, Number 2, April 2006 55 Historical Note The Endocrinologist • Volume 16, Number 2, April 2006

FIGURE 1. Imhotep was the “royal chamberlain” of King Netjerkhet, also known as Djoser, the third dynasty. Imhotep is believed to be the architect of the oldest surviving major stone building, the step pyramid. Imhotep was also a skilled physician, referred to by the Greeks as the Asklepios of the Egyptians, and elevated to a God, “son of Ptah” by the time of the 27th dynasty. Note the scroll in the left hand, on the left knee, the position in which the Ebers Papyrus was found when it was disen- tered from its tomb.