The Need to be Whole
The spiritual and functional need to be whole has driven men, since the dawn of time to develop prosthetic devices. When was the first artificial arm or leg made? No real record exist today, however medical forensic evidence suggest prehistoric man used some type of prosthetics.
The earliest anthropological evidence comes to us through the Smithsonian Institution. This fossil evidence is a human skull that has been dated at over 45,000 years. From the shape and alignment of the teeth, it is believed this person had an arm missing. In France and Spain come evidence in cave painting form around 36,000 years ago, and shows negative impressions of a mutilated hand. And from Mexico paintings in caves suggest self-inflicted wounds as a form of worship. From India comes the first written record of the use of prosthetics, the Rig-Veda I, an ancient sacred poem. It recounts the history of warrior Queen Vishpla, who lost her leg in battle, was fitted with an iron prosthesis, then returned to fight.
In ancient times, children with congenital birth defects were killed or ostracized because they were thought to be spiritually unclean or a burden on society. Amputation was feared more than death by some, because it was believed it effected them in the afterlife. Some cultures would bury the amputated limb, then when the person died, would disinter the limb and bury it with the body. The Aztec Ruler, King Montezuma II, had compassion for the disabled and established a compound for such. Although degrading, it was better than living on the streets.
The reasons for amputation have not changed over the centuries. Birth defects, war, and accidents have been around since the dawn of time. In the Arabic countries, birth defects were high because of interfamily marriage. It was common practice for cousins to marry. Amputation for punishment of thief was also common in these countries. The right hand was used for eating and the left for toileting. Theft was punishable by amputation of the right hand. This effectively ostracized the individual from society. Ancient cultures used amputation to removed disease such as tuberculosis, leprosy and gangrene. Ceremonial amputation was used to appease gods, show faith or illustrate the altering effect of faith.
Surgery was far more advanced in the ancient times than most of us think. Tools were fairly advanced and the use of analgesics and anesthesia was common. Judicial punishment was cruel and no anesthesia was used and an axe was the usual form of punishment. Extracts form nepentag, opium, hemp, mandrake, henbane, hemlock and alcohol were used for anesthesia. Antiseptics were also common; smoke, honey, wine, niter, and hot oils were used to clean the wounds. Tools of bronze and stone were common and it has been show saws of stone or an animals jaw could amputate a limb in under six minutes.
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