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Ebers encountered immense difficulties in the work of deciphering this papyrus; as an example of the obstacles met, he gives the following literal translation of a diagnosis beginning on Plate XXXVI., line 4:—
“ Rules for the re het, that is, suffering in the pit of the stomach (pylorus or cardia). When thou findest anybody with the hardening of re het, and when eating he feels a pressure in his bowels (chet), his stomach (het) is swollen, and he feels ill while walking, like one who is suffering from heat in the back (tau nu peht), then look at him when he is lying outstretched,[1] and if thou findest his bowels hot and a hardening in his re het, then say to thyself, this is a liver complaint (sepu pu n merest). Then make thyself a remedy according to the secrets in botanical knowledge from the plant pa chestel and from scraps of dates. Mix it and put it in water. The patient may drink it on four mornings to purge his body. If after that thou findest both sides of his bowels (chet), namely, the right one hot and the left one cool, then say of it: That is bile. Look at him again, and if you find his bowels entirely cold, then say to thyself: His liver (Pmerest) is cleansed and purified; he has taken the medicine (sep nef sep), the medicine has taken effect. ”
The following is the translation of the first four lines of Plate I:
“ The book begins with the preparation of the medicines for all portions of the body of a patient. I came from Heliopolis with the Great Ones from Het Lords of Protection, the Masters of Eternity and Salvation. I came from Sais with the mother goddesses who extended to me protection. The Lord of the Universe told me how to free the gods from all murderous diseases. ”- ↑ It is curious to note here that (according to Dunglison) Diodorus states that the priestly physiciansof Egypt formed their diagnosis principally on the position which the patient assumed in bed.
