Do these two sources show that the Romans understood less about medicine than the Egyptians?
Use the sources A and B and your knowledge to explain your answer. [7 Marks]

 

You will need to use your own contextual knowledge about ancient medicine to help you answer this question. Even though Asclepius was not Roman, what can a Roman drawing of him tell you about Roman knowledge of medicine?

 

Source B: A Roman drawing of Asclepius.

 

Source A: Written by an Egyptian doctor in about 1500 BC.

46 channels go from the heart to every limb. If a doctor places his hand on the back of the head, hands, stomach, arms or feet, then he hears the heart.

There are four channels to the liver; it is they which give it life and air, which afterwards cause all diseases to begin in it by overfilling with blood.

There are four vessels that open to the anus. The anus opens to every vessel to the right side and to the left when it is overfilled with excrements.