The Edwin Smith Surgical Papyrus, dating from the seventeenth century BC, is one of the oldest of all known medical papyri. It was written by an Egyptian surgeon about 1600 BC, but is believed to be a copy of a much older text, perhaps as old as 3000 BC. It describes 48 cases that an army or ’emergency room’ surgeon might encounter. Each case is presented in a logical–and strikingly modern–manner- title, examination, diagnosis and treatment.

The papyrus is named for Edwin Smith, who bought it 1862 in Luxor Egypt, from a dealer named Mustapha Aga.