Such advances in the field defy imagination, noted a researcher named Yue Hongbin.
As far back as 3 thousand years ago, ancient Chinese doctors were able to perform surgical operations for craniotomy, skillfully making holes in the bone tissue with the help of special tools. This is the conclusion made by researchers at the Institute of Archeology at the Academy of Social Sciences of China in the course of studying the ruins of a settlement from the Shang dynasty (1600-1046 BC) in the central province of Henan.
During excavations, scientists stumbled upon the skeleton of a 10-year-old boy, in whose head a round hole with a diameter of about 1 cm was drilled in his head for medical purposes while still alive. Apparently, the operation was successful, since the patient continued to live for quite a long time after the surgery.
“Such advances in medicine 3,000 years ago defy imagination,” the Xinhua news agency quoted one researcher, Yue Hongbin, as saying. “The Shang dynasty seemed to have a fairly structured understanding of ailments affecting various parts of the human body and could treat diseases with medication, acupuncture, massage, and surgery.”
According to him, archaeologists during these excavations have repeatedly found traces left from the trepanation of the skull. Yue Hongbin also noted that ancient Chinese doctors in their craft actively used medicinal herbs, with the help of which they prepared potions that could stop profuse bleeding or the effect of poison. For the creation of painkillers and anesthesia, in particular, nightshade and pepper were used.
Among the medical instruments found by scientists, which doctors used in that distant era, were knitting needles 12-13 cm long. Special attention of researchers was attracted by jade knives, which, according to one version, were used not for operating, but as scrapers during massage.
Chinese archaeologists continue excavations at the site of the ancient settlement and hope that in the future they will be able to find interesting artifacts that will help get an even clearer idea of the possibilities of medicine in ancient China.
Nikolay Selishchev
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