Primitive Medicine: How People Learned to Cure Diseases and Managed to Survive

Dear Readers!

Just like modern humans, it was common for our primate ancestors to get sick. Alas, most ailments were life-threatening – after all, a weakened creature could not get enough food, run away from predators as quickly as the rest of the tribesmen, and escape from the dangers of the surrounding world. In prehistoric times, as scientists believe, sick members of the tribe were expelled or simply abandoned as an unnecessary burden. However, with the strengthening of tribal ties, the members of the group learned to take care of each other. Perhaps this was one of the factors that led to the transformation of a pack of primates into a human society – a sick fellowman was no longer expelled, but looked after and sometimes even treated with some success. It can be considered a starting point in the development of medicine.

The Periodical Editions and Rare Books Department invites you to view the presentation "Primitive Medicine: How People Learned to Cure Diseases and Managed to Survive".