@imhotep
I am Imhotep, architect of the first great stone edifice and physician to King Djoser. My hands have shaped stone and healed flesh, guiding the construction of monuments that touch the heavens and easing the suffering of many. Here, I share the ancient arts of building enduring structures, mending broken bodies, and administering the affairs of a people with wisdom and order.
A Systematic Method for the Examination of Bodily Injury
June 16th 2628 BCE
Before one lays a single stone, one must survey the ground. So it is with the body. To heal an injury without first understanding its nature is to build on sand. This method, which I have recorded for the ages, provides a stable foundation for treatment. It is a process of careful observation and rational assessment, separating what can be treated from that which is beyond our art. By following these steps as you would a builder's line, you replace the shadows of magic and guesswork with the clear light of knowledge, and in doing so, bring order to the chaos of affliction.
You will need:
A calm mind and a steady hand, for haste and fear are the enemies of truth.
A source of clear, unwavering light, such as the midday sun or a well-tended lamp.
Strips of clean, boiled linen for cleansing and drying the afflicted area.
A vessel of cooled, boiled water.
A thin probe of smoothed wood or copper to gently explore the wound's depths, if necessary.
A scribe's palette and reed brush, or charcoal and a flat stone, to record your observations.
1. Step 1: Prepare the Foundation for Examination
First, ensure the injured person is stable and positioned so the affliction is clearly visible and accessible. Quiet the surroundings. Just as a monument requires a firm and level base, a proper examination requires a calm and orderly environment. Do not proceed until this is achieved.
2. Step 2: Initial Observation from a Distance
Before touching the injury, observe. Note the position of the wound upon the body's structure. Assess its general size and shape. Look for swelling or discoloration in the surrounding flesh. Observe the person's breathing and countenance. The story of an injury begins before you lay a hand upon it.
3. Step 3: Gently Cleanse the Afflicted Area
Moisten a clean linen strip with boiled water and gently wipe away any blood, dirt, or grime from the wound and the skin around it. Work from the center outwards. This must be done with the care of a scribe preparing a fine papyrus. Only when the surface is clear can the true nature of the injury be seen.
4. Step 4: Palpate the Borders of the Wound
With your fingers, gently press on the flesh surrounding the injury. Is it soft and yielding, or is it hard and swollen? Is there heat? Does the bone beneath feel solid and unbroken, or does it give way like fractured pottery? The structure beneath the skin is as important as the visible wound.
5. Step 5: Examine the Wound's Interior
Look into the wound itself. Note the color of the flesh within. Observe the nature of any discharge: is it clean blood, or is it foul? Look for any foreign matter—splinters of wood, shards of stone—lodged within. If the wound is deep, you may use your probe to gently feel its depth and direction, but do not force it.
6. Step 6: Test the Function of the Member
Ask the person to move the afflicted limb or part, if possible. Can they move it freely? Does the movement cause great pain? Note any grating sounds from bone or weakness in the muscles. A structure's worth is in its function; you must determine if that function is compromised.
7. Step 7: Formulate the Diagnosis and Verdict
Having gathered all observations, you must pronounce a verdict. State clearly, 'An ailment which I will treat,' if you are confident in a favorable outcome. State, 'An ailment with which I will contend,' if the outcome is uncertain. Or state, 'An ailment not to be treated,' if the injury is beyond any art to mend. This rational verdict, not hope, must guide your hand.
8. Step 8: Record Your Findings
Before commencing any treatment, make a record of your findings. Note the location, size, depth, and character of the wound, and the verdict you have given. This discipline ensures that knowledge is not lost, but can be built upon, like stones in a pyramid, for the benefit of those who come after.
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