Baghdad Battery: An Ancient Medical Instrument?
(ORDO NEWS) — The history of mankind has always been full of mysteries and mysteries. One such mystery is the Baghdad Battery, an ancient artifact found in the old village of Khujut Rabu near Baghdad. At first glance it looks like a simple clay pot with a copper cylinder and an iron rod. But what makes this find so unique and causes so much controversy and debate among historians and archaeologists?
One of the most interesting aspects of the Baghdad battery is its possible medical use. In the Journal of Near Eastern Studies, Paul T. Keizer suggests that this ancient battery may have been used to numb or anaesthetize an area of skin during medical treatment.
The idea is that the electrical currents generated by the battery could be used to treat illness and relieve pain.
However, to understand how this might have worked, it is necessary to consider the ancient medical practices of the time. In ancient Akkad and Babylon there were two types of doctors – “asipu” and “asu”.
The former were engaged in diagnosing diseases using fortune telling or observing symptoms, while the latter were prescribing treatment. It was the “asu” who could apply electric currents to patients to relieve pain and treat.
So how could the Baghdad Battery be used for medical purposes? If one battery could not generate enough voltage to kill the skin, then several batteries connected together could create enough electrical force. Thus, Mesopotamian medical practice may have included the use of such an electrotherapeutic device.
However, there are also skeptics who view the Baghdad battery with distrust. They claim that it is just a simple clay vessel used for storing papyrus, or for applying electroplating. But why then was not a single electroplated object found? Other researchers point to the presence of asphalt as a sealant and corrosive properties inside the can, which may indicate the presence of a caustic liquid.
In ancient times, most liquids were acidic, so it is possible that the corrosive liquid in the Baghdad Battery was vinegar or wine.
Keyser also notes the presence of bronze and iron needles found with batteries at Seleucia. He suggests that these needles may have been used for acupuncture, a common practice at the time.
It is interesting to note that it was not only the ancient Mesopotamians who used electricity for medical purposes. The Greeks and Romans also used electric fish to treat various diseases. In his writings, Scribonius Largus describes the use of live electric fish to relieve the pain of gout.
Thus, the Baghdad Battery remains a mystery, causing much controversy and debate. Could it really be an ancient medical instrument? Or is it just an artifact that we still can’t fully understand?
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