ANCIENT SURGERY

Evening Star, Issue 20313, 23 October 1929, Page 8

ANCIENT SURGERY

REMARKABLE OPERATIONS BEFORE CHRIST MANY INTERESTING DISCOVERIES Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, October 22. (Received October 23, -at 12.40 p.m.) Lord Moynihan (an eminent surgeon), lecturing at Leeds on ‘Surgery, Ancient and Modern,’ discussed remarkable surgical operations thousands of years before Christ, and referred to actual anatomical remains of Pharaoh, and Moses, and of Napoleon. Perhaps the most interesting visceral discovery was that of a trouble which afflicted the Pharaoh of the oppression. It was a large vessel springing from his heart, and was found so well preserved that Mr Shattalk, of the Royal College of Surgeons, was able to make sections of it and compare them with those of a man recently dead. A portion of Napoleon’s viscera revealed certain little tumours in the intestines, suggesting that death was caused by cancer; but Sir Arthur Keith’s re-examination showed that the tumours were non-malignant, but similar perhaps and identical to “Malta fever.”

Lord Moynihan said that the profession of medicine was always closely related to religion and magic. His attention had recently been called to tht “pyramid” at Sagarrah—the oldest stone building in the world. Australian troops, during the war, left their names and initials scribbled on various columns on the altar of the temple. One wrote: “ I am the only survivor ol my company which fought at Gallipoli. —John Smith, Melbourne. 1917.” A hieroglyphic just uncovered read: “ I am the only survivor of my company which fought in a punt, and I come to worship at the temple of my fathers.” The name and date, about 1250 n.c., followed.—Australian Press AssociationUnited Service.