AsclepiusMore on the RelativesImhotep"..first figure of a physician to stand out clearly from the mists of antiquity." Imhotep diagnosed and treated over 200 diseases, 15 diseases of the abdomen, 11 of the bladder, 10 of the rectum, 29 of the eyes, and 18 of the skin, hair, nails and tongue. Imhotep treated tuberculosis, gallstones, appendicitis, gout and arthritis. He also performed surgery and practiced some dentistry. Imhotep extracted medicine from plants. He also knew the position and function of the vital organs and circulation of the blood system.Something to consider 

Pick a god, any god. What aspect of that god is manifest in health care today? 

References and Further Reading 

Graves R (1955) The Greek Myths  Pelican  chapters 21, 50, 63 

Fraser, Sir James (1914) The Golden Bough  Macmillan  v 88 n1 

Howaston MC and Chilvers I (1993) The Concise Oxford Companion to Classical Literature  Oxford University Press 

Carmichael AG and Ratzan RM (1991) Medicine in Literature and Art   Konemann  pp 31-36

http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/imhotep.htm 

http://homepage.mac.com/cparada/GML 

Bolton G. Opening the Word Hoard  (this is a regular column) J Med Ethics: Medical Humanities  2000; 26; 55-57