THE MEDICAL SYMBOL: THE CADUCEUS OR THE ROD OF ASCLEPIUS
It is hard to trust a profession that cannot even get its symbols straight..-Daniel P Sulmasy
What do you believe is the symbol of medicine? The Caduceus is not.
The Caduceus from Greek (κηρύκειο “herald’s wand, or staff”) is the staff wielded by Hermes in Greek mythology and consequently by Hermes-Trismegistus in Greco-Egyptian mythology. The Caduceus is staff entwined with two snakes, often winged
The Rod of Asclepius also known as the Staff of Asclepius (sometimes also spelled Asklepios), is a serpent-entwined rod wielded by the Greek god Asclepius, associated with healing and medicinal arts in Greek mythology.
ORIGINS
Hermes (Greek: Ἑρμῆς) is the god of trade, heraldry, merchants, commerce, roads, thieves, trickery, travelers, and athletes in Greek mythology. He is depicted as the conductor of the dead to the afterlife, moving freely between the two realms.
The Caduceus was frequently illustrated carried by Mercury; the messenger of gods, guide of the dead, and protector of merchants, shepherds, liars, gamblers and thieves in Roman iconography.
The Rod of Asclepius has it origin from Asclepius-Greek god of healing and medicinal art in ancient Greek. He's the father to Hygeia and Panacea- goddess of medicine. Talk about inheritance!
Notable Asclepian temple was at island of Kos, where Hippocrates-the father of medicine, was reported to have begun his healing career. Others were located in Epidaurus in north-eastern Peloponnese, Trikala, Gortys and Pergamum in Asia.
EARLY USAGES
Of the Caduceus:
Physician John Caius, President of the Royal College of Physicians during official visit to his eponymous college, Caius College, Cambridge, carried before him a silver caduceus which he presented to the college, where it remains in the College's possession. Noteworthy, is Sir William Butts, a physician to Henry VII usage of Caduceus as a symbol.
Walter J Friedlander, author of _The Golden Wand of Medicine: A History of the Caduceus Symbol in Medicine_ contemplated that association of Caduceus as a symbol of medicine might be driven from association of Hermes Trismegistus ("Thrice-Great Hermes") with early chemistry and medicine as parts of alchemy as an hermetic and esoteric art.
He also believed that usage of the caduceus symbol by prolific English medical printer, John Churchill, in 1844, in publishing has a thing to do with the role of Mercury as a messenger and a scribe. Though Churchill at the time was aware that the rod of Asclepius was the accepted symbol of medicine.
Of The Rod of Asclepius:
Snakes; Aesculepian snakes were always introduced at the founding of every new Asclepius temple in the ancient time. The snakes, non-venomous was used for rituals and healings, in honor of Asclepius. They roamed and crawled around freely in the temples, most especially in the dormitories where the sicks and slept. This led to scholars assumptions that the serpent and the staff were separate symbols combined in the development of Asclepian cult which grew very popular from 300BC.
CONTEMPORARY VIEWS
The Caduceus is often mistakenly used as a symbol of medicine instead of the Rod of Asclepius, especially in the United States. It became established in the United State in the late 19th and early 20th century. The US Army Medical corps erroneously adopted this.
A survey of 242 logos of organisations related to health or medicine by Friedlander, showed that professional associations were more likely to use the rod of Asclepius (62%), while organizations with a commercial focus were more likely to use the caduceus (76%). Hospitals were an exception (37% used a staff of Asclepius whereas 63% used a caduceus). Friedlander believed it likely that this might reflect the fact that
…professional medical organizations have more often sought a real understanding of the meaning of the two symbols whereas commercial organizations have been less interested in the historical basis of their logo or insignia and more concerned with how well a certain symbol will be recognized by the iconographically unsophisticated audience they are trying to attract to their wares."
“I swear by Apollo the Physician and by Asclepius and Hygieia and Panacea and by all the gods…”
The original Hippocratic Oath began with the invocation above, to reemphasize the statue of Asclepius and his contributions to medicine.
The rod of Asclepius has gained notable modern day usage, where it is associated with medicine and health care, but often confused with the staff of the god Hermes, the caduceus. Notable organisations having the rod of Asclepius as their logos or part, includes: World Health Organisation (WHO), Ahmadu Bello University Medical Students Association (ABUMSA), British Medical Association among others.
The use of the caduceus has been constantly frowned at for it inappropriate usage as a medical symbol due to its long associations with alchemy, Mercury and the Greek god Hermes, who was the patron of commerce and traders as well as thieves, liars, and gamblers.
Despite widespread acceptance of the caduceus as a medical symbol in the United States, it has been observed that the rod of Asclepius has “the more ancient and authentic claim to be the emblem of medicine”.
Major attempts to prove the authenticity and usage of caduceus in a medical context from the last quarter of 19th century through the first quarter of the 20th, have been characterized as “based on flimsy and pseudo-historical research”.
The director of communications of the Minnesota Medical Association was said: “If it’s got wings on it, it’s not really the symbol of medicine; some may find it hard to believe, but it’s true. It’s something like using the logo for the National Rifle Association when referring to the Audubon Society”.
