History of occupational medicine: Relevance of Imhotep and the Edwin Smith papyrus

Abstract

Before Hippocrates in the history of occupational medicine, reference is sometimes made to the face that the study of the diseases of occupations is as old as man and his work; in certain texts considerable attention is paid to the work and related hazards of primitive and prehistoric peoples. The transition in the history of occupational medicine from prehistory to the recorded history of Hippocrates, however, passes over a body of writing with acknowledged relevance to the general history of medicine, the Egyptian papyri. These writings have special relevance to the recorded history of occupational medicine as well. Of particular importance is the Edwin Smith papyrus. The extant copy of this papyrus was transcribed c 1600 BCE in the XVIII dynasty of the New Kingdom. The text contains 48 illustrative cases dealing with various traumatic and accidental injuries to the head, face, neck, arms, chest, shoulder, and spinal column, in that order. Each case is arranged in logical, quite modern fashion including a descriptive heading or provisional diagnosis, results of examination, diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, and glosses on archaic terms used. Perhaps we should regard the Edwin Smith papyrus as the first manual of occupational trauma and Imhotep as the grandfather of occupational medicine.