Evening star., 1932-12-30
MEDICINES TRACED
TO PRIMITIVE MEN
Surgery Also Used Widely to
End Diseases Known in
Modern Times.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
ATLANTIC CITY, N. j., December
30.-Suf1ering from pyorrhea, tubercu-
losis, palsy and other diseases, prehis-
toric man very early discovered nedi-
cine and surgery. using herbs and stone
Instruments, such Is fiint saws, knives,
scrapers. chisels and borers. DR.. George
3. Duncan, professor Of Egyptolosy and
archaeology of American University at
citation for the Advancement Of Science,
In session here.
Fossil remains of animals, DR.. Dun
can said. showed diseases as far back
as the palaeozoic age, SIS, 5,000, 900 to
225. 10000 900 years ago. including carries.
pyorrhea, alveolus, fractures. calluS and
parasitism.
In the mesozoic era" he said, 225,-
900 900 to 100000 900 of years ago, LESSONS
were very common. These are in the
bones Of dinosaurs. turtles. crocodilcs
and other reptiles. In the tertiary
period. 10000 900 to / 000, 900 years ago.
the animal remains show the existence
of numerous similar diseases. The
quaternary era Is from 1000, 900 of
years ago To our time. In this period
man appears not less than 500 900 years
ago
Many Diseases Common.
Many diseases were common to pre-
historic man, such as bone cysts,
pyorrhea. alveolus, tuberculosis. rickets.
ulcers, carries atrophy of skull and
bones. growths. infla ammation and pal
sey. Fossil shells and fishes also show
traces Of disease.
Man must have very early discovered
medicine" declared Dr.. Duncan. He
would see the animals about him using
remedies for their ills. Dogs and cats
ate herbs as purgativeS. The mongoose,
bitten by a snake. ch we'd mimosa leaves.
plantago major. V.!d goats, hit by
poisoned arrows, ate dittany. II this
was true OF the ere .ures below man.
how much more true must 1t have been
OF man. His medicines would be vari-
Gus herbs, roots, fruits and leaves. He
probably discovered certain minerals
good for healing The remedies found
in the earliest records Of Egypt, Baby
lonia and AsSyria. help us to infer what
medicines prehistoric man must have
used. Primitive man also used witch
craft In healing. He was very super
stitious and believed spirits caused dis
ease. Amulets were carried as charms
to ward of evil spirits
Surgical operations were performed
by prehistoric man. He had only stone
instruments, since metal was not vet
discovered. Flint saws. knives. scrapers.
chisels and borers would constitute the
OUTFIT Of these primitive surgeons. The
operations embraced finger arm and
other amputations. correction Of de-
formities and suppuration during the
process OF healing. There are indica-
tions OF cauterization and scarification
Remarkable skill was shown in setting
fractures In the skeletons of Is men
having fractured limbs only three healed
badly.
''Trephining seems to have been a
common operation In prehistoric times"
said DR.. Duncan. In a cave in France
with the skeletons Of 100 persons no less
than 40 had trephined skulls. Trephin-
ing. probably also had a magical effect.
Pains in the head were attributed to evil
spirits. Holes must be made in the skull
to let the spirits out. There Is no evi-
dence of any anesthetic being used In
prehistoric times"