Development of trauma and critical care

Abstract

The contemporary historian, Meade, 1 states It is hardly surprising that surgery of a number of parts of the human body had its origin in the treatment of wounds, for in many respects man's environment is a hostile one, threatening him on all sides with insults to the body that is ill-adapted to resist force. Aside from the mute testimony of the remains of our forebears, however, the first actual account of the treatment of wounds is to be found in the Edwin Smith Papyrus. According to Breasted, it was written about 1700 BC, but composed of texts dating back as far as 3000 BC The fascinating Smith Papyrus, which is now translated and in print, 2 includes the records of 48 cases with discussions of diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis (Figure 20.1). © 2008 Springer New York.