The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-03-25
q WOODS HUTCHINSON.

the whole world has been
IL marveling over the glory OF
ancient Egypt, the power Of riches
of the Pharaohs. and the splendor
of their royal courts. as treasure
after treasure has been brought
forth from the tomb Of Tut-Ankh-
Amen.
Al veritable Egyptian Renaissance
has set in and the museums are
crowded with copyists and design
ers from every field of fashion,
seeking ''new" models and hints.
Yet, while the world at large is
deIighting Itself with the wondrous
trappings and accoutrements which
were intended to accompany
Egypt's mighty dead into the life
beyond, q comparatively small
group, mostly scientists. have
been studying the reasons why the
unconscious causes Of all this pa
geantry should SO often have
needed this glorious entombment
while still in the prime Of life.
WEALTH VS.. SICKNESS.
Thanks to the skill. of the an
Gent embalmers who have pre-
served the bodies OF these kings
and princes unto this day, we can
sometimes actually detect the
causes of death. and it gives US
very different view Of Egyptian
life as apart from the splendors
with which they surrounded them
selves. and which are so fervently
admired today.
It Is said that Lord Carnarvon
has actually been offered 800, 900
for the exclusive fashion design
rights on all objects found In Tut
AnIh-Amen's tomb. 50 rich and
wonderful are the designs. But
not all the wealth Of ancient Egypt
could have saved those mighty
rulers from some sufferings which
are spared to the most ordinary
mortal OF today.
One pathetic proof of this il
shown in 3 royal mummy. recently
discovered in the midst Of the most
splendid trappings. on the lower
right side. Of whose abdomen there
Is long. deep scar-the mark Of
red-hot iron. the Egyptian rem
edy for appendicitis collie.
In justice to the old priest
physician it should be said that
he was doing the best he could
with the knowledge he possessed.
A certain amount of heat over
the seat Of the pain lessened 1t
considerably. Therefore q great
deal Of heat on the same spot
ought to cure the cause of the
suffering, and It must be admitted
that this extremely simple logic
was followed in its essentials clear
mp to the last half dozen decades.
Scarifyings, authorizations. poul-
tees and '.potions" which vie with
one another in the fearsomeness
Of their tests and smeIl-those
were the standbys of old-style
medicine. Clean water, clean food,
sensible living and care of the
teeth and tonsils were never even
thought of. while many operations
were. OF course, practically impos.
sible before the discovery Of
chloroform.
Nowadays we are well aware
OF the Importance Of these natural
danger signals, and instead Of try
ing to club them over the head
with some drug. or brighten them
out Of existence with scaIpels and
red-hot cauteries, we observe them
with respect and follow them up
with promptitude.
OLD ATTITUDE ALTERED.
Particularly is this true Of any
signs Of bodily boiler trouble. any
indication Of nue-plugging, or
Sprung" joints, which are gen.
orally Jumped under the heading
Of "colics."
Our old attitude Of contemptu-
Gus resignation, of regarding them
merely as inevitable and incense
quential Affections. which were
bound to periodically annoy US
from the cradle to the grave, has
radically altered.
shakespeare might start his
Seven Ages OF Man with the infant
'meuling and puking in his
nurses arme," and regard this as
being merely the most salient
characteristics Of extreme youth
out his mastery Of English wal
Ear greater than his knowledge oil
medicine.
Nowadays this "Shakespearear
sign" lasts only as long as 4
takes the physician to locate thu
trouble. This latter may not b,
serious, but 1t is the sign Of al
upset, and upsets are inherent.
bad medicine"
The usual cure would doubt
less have aroused the scorn o
the ancient doctor, who wante
instant and impressive results
regardless Of the final const
quences. A light readjustmen