What happens when we mix a generalized ignorance of pharmacology and health, with ignorance about foreign languages and cultures? Many things, and few as unpleasant as what happened between the twelfth and seventeenth centuries: the consumption of “Mumia”.
During the final stage of the Middle Ages and the first centuries of the Modern Age, doctors in Europe considered this substance as a balm with healing properties of the most diverse, from healing an indigestion to fighting the bubonic plague. The problem is that The “Mumia” It was nothing other than an elaborate preparation From the mummified remains of killed people hundreds or thousands of years ago. That is, crushed mummies.
But its consumption could have been due to a simple translation error, as Explain in an article for The conversation Professor of the University of Bristol Michelle Spear.
We usually assimilate medieval medicine with the acquaintance Four mood theorybut this was not the only medical doctrine that inspired the medicine of that era. In his article, Spear relates mummy dust to the DOCTRINE OF SIGNATURES. This other theory considered that healing substances kept similarity to what they wanted to cure.
It would then be “reasonable” that the mummified remains of a person were seen as a treatment against potentially lethal diseases and also as a remedy against infections or against necrosis and other forms of decay.
Another doctrine that, according to this researcher at the University of Bristol, could have served as the basis for the use of corpses in medical practice is that of vitalism. Under the umbrella of this theory, the notion that the “vital force” of one person could simply transfer to another would be found.
The use of anomalous substance began to spread in the twelfth century, an era in which Events like the Crusades They would give a new air to relations between the East and West. This was not only saw the spice trade between them, it was in this era that Europe began to Import Ancient Egypt mummies to fill your apothecies of the strange remedy.
Long before Orientalism and Egyptology lead Europeans to explore (often loot) the tombs of ancient Egypt, their ancestors would have already taken numerous human remains belonging to that Mediterranean civilization.
A misunderstanding?
As Spear explains, this “fashion” could have had its beginning in a simple misunderstanding starring the Persian scientist whom we today know how Avicena. In his treaties, this thinker of the eleventh century mentioned a remedy used in his environment to treat injuries such as injuries and fractures.
This ointment was a bituminous substance that they referred to as Mūmiyā. By translating Avicena’s texts into Latin, this Mūmiyā It would have transformed into no less than very trust mummies, so the idea that the bodies hid the secret for the cure of numerous ills and disorders began to spread.
To finish the mistake, the substances used in some reservoirs They could also have helped confusion. After all, these substances would not have been very different from the Mūmiyā used by the Persians.
The story of the call “Medical cannibalism” It does not end in mummy dustso the notion that everything was a mere translation error may not completely explain this phenomenon. Fat, blood and human skulls have been consumed in different ways as a way of relieving evils of different kinds.
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Image | Bullenwächter / Émile Brugsch
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