Ancient Babylonian Medicine (Mesopotamia)

Question 1

Where is Mesopotamia?

Answer 1

Includes modern day Iraq, Iran and Syria.

Question 2

Medicine in Mesopotamia was mainly based on

Answer 2

Astrology

Priestly Divination

Question 3

What was the relationship between Ancient Babylonian medicine (Mesopotamia) and Ancient Egyptian medicine ?

Answer 3

—Mesopotamian medicine existed contemporarily with ancient Egyptian medicine
—but it was more advanced than it’s Egyptian counterpart

Question 4

Medical records in Mesopotamia were kept as

Answer 4

Tablets
Pots
Clays

Question 5

Between the Egyptian record keeping and the Mesopotamian, which was more orderly?

Answer 5

Egyptian,
due to availability of paper (papyrus could be arranged in order, while tablets, clays and pots were more likely to be separated)

Question 6

Between the Egyptian and Mesopotamian med, which had more medical records kept?

Answer 6

Mesopotamian

Question 7

Diseases were believed to be

Answer 7

Punishments by gods

Question 8

In therapeutics drugs used were

Answer 8

Flowers
Fruit leaves
Barks
Roots

Question 9

What was ENEMA?

Answer 9

Introduction of medicine into rectum and vagina using instruments

Question 10

There were 3 types of physicians called

Answer 10

—Spell doctors (psychiatrists)

—Knife doctors (surgeons)

—Herbs doctors (pharmacists)

Question 11

The main regulation of medical thought was by

Answer 11

The Codes of Hammurabi

Question 12

Who propounded the codes of Hammurabi?

Answer 12

King Hammurabi of Babylon (lived 2250 BC)

Question 13

What are the achievements of the Mesopotamian medicine?

Answer 13

— developed extensive pharmacopoeia involving the use of opium, leaves , Rauvolfia serpentina(Indian snakeroot)

—personal hygiene was observed, unlike ancient Egyptians who were dirty

—development of water closet system

—enhanced treatment and sewage systems

— menstruating women were not allowed into shrines