New-York tribune., 1875-11-09

The AstOr Library, New I Ork, mas quIte re-
Gently into possession Of work OF extraordinary
antiquity, which win prove Of immense vaiue To the
archsologst. historian, and student OF science This
remarkable book Is fac-simile OF an Egyptian medicsi
treatise written the 10th century T. c, and conse
quently than 3,4OO years old. Though strictly
medical work II reveals much relating to ancient Egyp
tan domestic lfe and without doubt one of the most
important contributions 70 the history OF medical science
discovered The reading public Is indebted to the
berity Of SIR. VIM. b. Astor for tins rare ana cosby
work
The title translated IL a. follows
PAPYRUs EBERs, the Hermetic Book OF Medicines OF
the Ancient Egyptians in Herntic Writing. Pubished'
with synopsis Contents and Introduction. by George
Ebers. With Hleroglyphic-Iatin Glossary by Ludwig
stein Under the Patronage OF the Royal Bureau OF Ed
ucaton in saxony. Leipzig. William Engelmann, 1870
vols Folio.
The papyrus OF which this work il fac-simile repro
ducon was by the srcheoogst Ebors, during
his visit to Egypt in the Winter OF ls12-J Ebets anu
his friend Stern residing at Tbebes, collecting
archaeological data, aud there became acquainted Win
we-to-do Arab from Luxor, who brought to them Tor
sale wooden image of Osiris and papy1s OF no
especial value susectiug that the Ar was holding In
objects Of greater interest Ehers offered MN
considerable sum for any superior specimens IN DIS poe"
session. This induced the Arab 10 oturn on the tOo"us
day bringing with him metnliic case containing
papyrus roll enveoped In mummy cloths Ebers immedi-
atey perceived he had prize. but was unable 70 com
nand the large sum of money demanded for 1t until pro-
vided with the through the Lberaliy OF German
gentleman Max Gfnther. travelling In that NcmV'
According Arabs account, the papyris had been
discovered fourteen years previously, by man sincc
dead between the bones of mummy in tomb OF the
Iheban Metropolis
Fer. bsstced back to Leipzig with his precious roll
and deposited it Cor safe keeping In the University
Library of that city. And with the cooperation OF
an enerprsng publisher and the assistance OF roya
patronage places it at the disposal OF the eVihzeu
world. by reproducing 1t In these handsome Volumes
The papyrTs as received by Ebers consisted 0f single
solidy-rolled sheet OF yeowbrown pnPyrus OF nnest
ouaiitv three enths Of meter wide. and little more
than twenty motors long II formed Que enormous DooK
but was divided into 10 pages which were cafriuy nun
beIed For purposes Of preservation and eAhlproh Al
convenient form II has since been cut mo se'oi"i
lengths The writing, which is exceedingly clear ana
regular Is partly in black aud partly in red Ink the
latter occurring the heads Of sections ana in the eA
uresson Of weghis and measures. The characters are
known IA eratio being cursive form of the erOgyphc
method writing and bearing the same relation 10 '
latter that ordinary written hand does 10 prh'eu
characters. Hieratic script resulted nom attempts ~
simplify the forms and outlines OF the ideographe CHAR
acter- employed in hieogyDhic writing which essen
tally combination Of picture-writng with phonetic
system Heroglyphcs in ancient Egypt were INC
written language of the people, and Herao "lhs was
chiefly confined to the saceriotil CASTE
The Papyrus Ebers is so maryeiousy well preserVeu
that not a single letter is lacking in the entire roll Inc
material of the papyrus ITSELF the Inner PARK OF eBer".
poynis was examined by Prof schenck, Professor OF
otany in the University of Leipzig, VINO eStaDiols rs
identity with that of similar rolls anu prohouhceu VI
remarkably good manufacture.
The age Of the manuscript determined by eonsid
eration of three points l. Photographic studies or the
torn of the written characters; = Occurrences o nsos
OF Kings 3 Examination OF calendar "hcn oceuIs w
the back of the first These data enable EDcIs o
assign the writing 10 the middle of the 10th century OF
more precisely, 1852 b. G. Accepting tlis daenaha ~ ~
has been established beyond reasonable donpt-tne
writing was prior to the exodus OF the sraeltes III
fact according to the commonly received ehrohoiOSy
Mose-. In 1872 Il. c., was Just 81 years oi age.
AUTHORSHIP.
Tho autor,bp OF this ancient treatise Is not revealed
It IL bears internal evidence Of being one OF thr SIX
uornf tic Books on Medicine named by Clement OF Alex
andrl 200 4 d. The Egyptian priests VINO were as"
the physicians order 10 give greater authority 10 the
writipgs were wont to ascrbe them to their gods anu
their eodited medical knowledge was generally ascflDed
10 the god Thuh Tor Taoth In proof OF this, Ehers
quotes tho following passage from page l. lines and D.
Of the papyrus in question:;
IRA pitics the sick; his Teacher is Thuu VINO gives
him speech who makes this book and gives the lnshe
ton to scholars and physicians In their succession
This god Thut also written Thoth and iaant Is the
famous Hennes Trsmegstus Of the Greeks, the same
who Was regarded by the alchemists OF the Middle Ages
with suuerstitlous reverence the Father OF Alchemy
However this may be historians accord III ieprtnlhg
ar. taught the Egyptians writing invented ai1lletlc
geometry, astronomy, ana musci gave aNs 10 'Ai Po P
their religious ccrc rcmnnies Al thr
tmo Of Ja.nbIcus, 4. d. 363. the priests OF Egypt
showed AZ books which uey atirpu,eu o. 70 ,aied
The history of all human knOwledge IN. last SIX eale
Of anatomy Of disease OF aneIohs % 1i 'po W. E
OF surgery, and OF medcnts. me Iapy
is ndsputaby OF these ancient Herinetle WOfks
study the synopsis of the contents gwen IN part belo"
IN cpes and prescriptions contained in this treatise
are evidently collected from various sources some Qi
them being quoted rom s % m"rg e .ad in tbe 6e,
a.. sea ia lDp
era places written in different and"llihs rom t1o
body Of the work and with lighter 9oloted NIX, IL
thinks the compilation was made Dy tue Gov gc OF
Priests at Thebes. basHg his copect.re partly Oh the
locality in which ii was discovered. = A.. ..,,t..
Fber- Cyc4 synopsis OF the contents OF the thiiie
H., roU reseryin "A fuller translation with commentary
Tor future publication. Phic translation o.
portion o the Hieratie nanlsctlpt also aee3npne % e
tifnl reproductions II The original paPrus N tne -ine
yellow brown color. The second volume contains a
hierogyphc-lain glossary Dl stern anu tht ~
of the plates Before proceeding to give dctans ol s
contents one more peculiarly i worm ~, Il @ y;
Though tho pascs are carefully numbered me Lure =
and 90 omitted while the text Il continuous EpIs m
absained from using these number. ior super
ddy rrnarked the WORK Is divided lnIo chapters
or eect.ous fair insight into the character oI the
treatise be obtained from the selected headings %
sections aud extracts here following:
CONTENTS OF PAPYRUs EBEBs.
Heading Of selected chapters The numbers refer 10
the pages OF the papyrus;
]. OF the preparation Of medicines
-. Df sIlgtb 4ur ing the Hhu0.
a Catllp ne ~ the various of the Te1ysm tree
a. Medicines aioviating the accumulation oi urine
aB, diseases Of tnc abdomen.
The book nj IRE
o. Medirament, for preventing the hair turning gray
ant frr the treatment Ot rDe HAIR.
a.. Medicines fOr forcing the growth of tho hair.
10 -alves for treugheing the nerves and medicines
for healing the nerves
- Meiirine for curing diseases oi the tongue
- Nedfnce for tie removal oi lice and ncas
81 Medicines for ears hard Ot hearing.
90 The secret Book Oi the Physician. The science OF
t d. afin heart and the knowledge OF the heart
a. taught by the prie,ty physician NebsechL
verify: There thing under the sun" Chap
te g. &C. 20 and 20 show that hair iuvsOIators. har