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A Short History of Medical Careers Prehistoric
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Prehistoric and Primitive Medicine
Archaeologists
and anthropologists who study prehistoric man and primitive tribes tell
us human societies have always had special individuals, both men and women,
who took the job of healer and were responsible for preventing illness
and curing the sick and injured. These shaman almost always held
multiple roles as healers, magicians, rulers, or priests.
Primitive medicine men learned how to splint, but probably not set, bone fractures. They also frequently performed a type of brain surgery that we today call trephination. Trephination was done by using stone instruments to bore or grind holes in the skull. Researchers do not know if the procedure was done to relieve demon spirits, treat skull fractures, or remove bone splinters. It is possible that trephination was done at different times for all of these reasons.
In
addition to magic, spells, prayers, and charms, shaman and healers often
used signature, or symbolic, items to treat their patients.
These signature treatments included things like drinking
the blood of a warrior to increase strength or eating leaves shaped like
body organs to cure a disease. Sometimes, through chance, these signatures
worked. When they did, the medicine men, or shamans, would pass the
information to the next generation of priests. Digitalis, morphine,
quinine, and ephedrine are all modern medicines that have been passed down
to us from prehistoric signature practice.
If you would like to learn more about Prehistoric or Primitive Medicine,
the Karolinska Institute Library
has many interesting links
