ABSTRACT
Medicine in ancient Egypt was very advanced. Papyri have survived showing that early Egyptian doctors had a good understanding of anatomy, probably derived from embalming, and were able to recognize and diagnose a large number of illnesses. The so-called Ebers Papyrus, for instance, is a huge papyrus roll dating back to c. 1550 BCE. It lists various diseases, including eye and skin disorders and diseases relating to pregnancy. Religion, magic, and medicine were closely related, so treatment for any disorder might include offerings to the gods, the use of spells, and herbs. Some priests were specially trained as doctors to treat the sick. Doctors used some techniques similar to those practiced today, such as listening to a pulse or tapping the back to check for respiratory problems. Doctors or official scribes kept medical records of diseases, diagnoses, and treatments, writing them on papyrus.
