Knowra Edwin Smith Papyrus Edwin Smith Papyrus An ancient Egyptian medical papyrus describing traumatic injuries through examinations, diagnoses, prognoses, and treatments. Its surviving copy was probably made around 1600 BCE.
Ancient Egyptian medicine : The medical knowledge and healing practices of ancient Egypt, preserved in texts, objects, and archaeological evidence. The papyrus is a major surviving source for Egyptian medical practice.
Clinical examination : The systematic observation and assessment of a person to identify signs of illness or injury. Cases begin with descriptions of what the practitioner can observe and test.
Ancient Egyptian civilization : The civilization that developed along the Nile Valley from antiquity through the Roman conquest of Egypt. The papyrus emerged from Egypt’s literate medical culture.
Imhotep : An ancient Egyptian official and architect later revered as a god of healing and medicine. Later medical tradition centered on a healing figure, unlike this text’s case-based clinical voice.
Papyrus : A writing material made from strips of the papyrus plant, used widely in ancient Egypt and the Mediterranean. Its plant-fiber sheets preserve the medical text.
Wound : An injury in which the body’s tissues are damaged by cutting, tearing, puncture, or impact. Wounds and their physical signs organize many of the cases.
Middle Kingdom of Egypt : A period of ancient Egyptian history conventionally dated about 2055–1650 BCE. Linguistic features of the text have been associated with an earlier Middle Kingdom composition.
Skull fracture : A break in one or more bones of the skull, often caused by a blow or other trauma. A sequence of cases examines head injuries and their signs.
Medical diagnosis : The process of identifying a disease or injury from symptoms, examination, and other evidence. Cases distinguish observed signs from a physician’s judgment about the injury.
Fracture : A break or crack in a bone, usually caused by force or weakened bone. Several cases classify injuries by the damage and displacement of bones.
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