The Symbol of Modern Medicine
Authors: Robert A. Wilcox, Emma M. Whitham
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2004)

Letters17 February 2004The Symbol of Modern MedicineRobert A. Wilcox, BMBS, BSc(Hons), PhD and Emma M. Whitham, MBBS, BSc(Hons), PhDRobert A. Wilcox, BMBS, BSc(Hons), PhDFrom Flinders Medical Centre; Bedford Park, South Australia 5042, Australia.Search for more papers by this author and Emma M. Whitham, MBBS, BSc(Hons), PhDFrom Flinders Medical Centre; Bedford Park, South Australia 5042, Australia.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-140-4-200402170-00025 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail IN RESPONSE:We are delighted that our article generated so much interest, and we are happy to address questions raised in correspondence. In-depth coverage will appear in our forthcoming book. Given the necessary brevity of our article, we were unable to include every theory behind the serpent and staff motif.Regarding the guinea worm theory proposed by Müller (1), this attractive piece of post hoc speculation has developed substantial popular appeal within the medical community but has no standing in the light of extensive historical and archaeological evidence. The Asklepian has its origins in the strong association between serpent worship ...References1. Müller R. Der schlangenstab des Asklepios und die Wasserschale der Hygieia. Forsch Fortschr. 1949;25:246. Google Scholar2. Bunn JT. Origin of the caduceus motif. JAMA. 1967;202:615-9. [PMID: 4863068] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Frey EF. The caduceus and the staff of Aesculapius from antiquity to the present. Tex Rep Biol Med. 1978;36:1-15. [PMID: 364756] MedlineGoogle Scholar4. Friedlander WJ. The Golden Wand of Medicine: A History of the Caduceus Symbol in Medicine. New York: Greenwood Pr; 1992. Google Scholar5. Numbers 21:9. Google Scholar6. Schouten J. The Rod and the Serpent of Asklepios. Amsterdam: Elsevier; 1967. Google Scholar7. Williams R. The United States Public Health Service, 1798-1950. Washington, DC: Commissioned Officers Association of the Public Health Service; 1951. Google Scholar8. U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. The History of the Commissioned Corps. Accessed at www.usphs.gov/html/history.html on 8 January 2004. Google Scholar9. Oliver JH, Maas PL. An ancient poem on the duties of a physician. Bull Hist Med. 1939;7:315-23. Google Scholar10. Osler W. Aequanimitas with Other Addresses to Medical Students, Nurses and Practitioners of Medicine. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Blakiston; 1930. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From Flinders Medical Centre; Bedford Park, South Australia 5042, Australia. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoThe Symbol of Modern Medicine: Why One Snake Is More Than Two* Robert A. Wilcox and Emma M. Whitham The Symbol of Modern Medicine Michael E. Toedt and Dominique M. Gooby Toedt The Symbol of Modern Medicine Neni Prasad The Symbol of Modern Medicine Adrian G. Letz The Symbol of Modern Medicine Drew Hause The Symbol of Modern Medicine Meyer D. Lifschitz The Symbol of Modern Medicine Sarkis J. Chobanian The Symbol of Modern Medicine David P. Steensma The Symbol of Modern Medicine Konstantinos Paparounas The Symbol of Modern Medicine Jamie Newman Metrics 17 February 2004Volume 140, Issue 4Page: 311-312KeywordsArmed forcesDNAHealth careHeartMedical servicesPlagueSocial status ePublished: 17 February 2004 Issue Published: 17 February 2004 CopyrightCopyright © 2004 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF DownloadLoading ...