Edwin Smith papyrus

Edwin Smith papyrus, (c. 1600 bce), ancient Egyptian medical treatise, believed to be a copy of a work dating from c. 3000 bce. The work likely was intended as a textbook on surgery and is considered a milestone in the history of medicine and surgery. Unlike other Egyptian medical papyri, which often emphasize magical spells, the Edwin Smith Papyrus is remarkable for its rational and empirical approach, describing observations, diagnoses, prognoses, and treatments in a structured format.

The papyrus presents information on 48 cases of injuries, primarily to the head, neck, and upper torso. It includes detailed descriptions of symptoms such as skull fractures, spinal injuries, and paralysis, reflecting an early understanding of the brain, cerebrospinal fluid, and meninges. It also reveals the ancient Egyptians’ knowledge of the relation of the pulse to the heart and of the workings of the stomach, bowels, and larger blood vessels. Treatments involve practical measures—such as bandaging, splinting, and preventing infection—rather than purely supernatural remedies.

The papyrus was acquired in Luxor in 1862 by American Edwin Smith, a pioneer in the study of Egyptian science. Upon his death in 1906, the papyrus was given to the New York Historical Society (renamed New York Historical in 2024) in New York City and turned over to American Egyptologist James Henry Breasted in 1920 for study. A translation, transliteration, and discussion in two volumes was published by Breasted in 1930. Today, the Edwin Smith Papyrus is maintained at the New York Academy of Medicine, where it is part of a rare manuscript collection, on permanent loan from the New York Historical.