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Mummies' false toes helped ancient Egyptians walk
University of Manchester ^ | February 13, 2011 | Unknown

Posted on 02/13/2011 4:58:18 PM PST by decimon

Two artificial big toes – one found attached to the foot of an ancient Egyptian mummy – may have been the world's earliest functional prosthetic body parts, says the scientist who tested replicas on volunteers.

University of Manchester researcher, Dr Jacky Finch, has shown that a three-part wood and leather artefact housed in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, along with a second one, the Greville Chester artificial toe on display in the British Museum, not only looked the part but also helped their toeless owners walk like Egyptians.

The toes date from before 600BC, predating what was hitherto thought to be the earliest known practical prosthesis – the Roman Capula Leg – by several hundred years.

Dr Finch, who is based in the University of Manchester's KNH Centre for Biomedical Egyptology, recruited two volunteers whose right big toe had been lost in order to test exact replicas of the artificial toes in the Gait Laboratory at Salford University's Centre for Rehabilitation and Human Performance Research.

Writing in the Lancet, Dr Finch said: "To be classed as true prosthetic devices any replacement must satisfy several criteria. The material must withstand bodily forces so that it does not snap or crack with use. Proportion is important and the appearance must be sufficiently lifelike as to be acceptable to both the wearer and those around them. The stump must also be kept clean, so it must be easy to take on and off. But most importantly it must assist walking.

She continued: "The big toe is thought to carry some 40% of the bodyweight and is responsible for forward propulsion, although those without it can adapt well. To accurately determine any level of function requires the application of gait analysis techniques involving integrated cameras and pressure devices placed along a walkway."

The volunteers were asked to wear the toes with replica Egyptian sandals and, while neither design was expected to perform exactly like a real big toe, one of the volunteers was able to walk extremely well with both artificial toes. No significant elevation in pressure under the foot was recorded for either toe, although both volunteers said they found the Cairo toe particularly comfortable.

The Greville Chester toe – made from cartonnage, a sort of papier maché made using linen, glue and plaster – shows considerable signs of wear, while the Cairo toe has certain features, such as a simple hinge, a chamfered front edge and a flattened underside.

"The wear on the Greville Chester toe and the important design features on the Cairo toe led me to speculate that these toes were perhaps worn by their owners in life and not simply attached to the foot during mummification for religious or ritualistic reasons," said Dr Finch.

"However, until we were able to test replicas of both toes using volunteers under laboratory conditions, it remained uncertain if they could indeed help their owners to walk.

"My findings strongly suggest that both of these designs were capable of functioning as replacements for the lost toe and so could indeed be classed as prosthetic devices. If that is the case then it would appear that the first glimmers of this branch of medicine should be firmly laid at the feet of the ancient Egyptians."

###

Notes for editors:

The article, 'The ancient origins of prosthetic medicine' is published in the Lancet and is available on request.

Images of both artificial toes and Dr Jacky Finch holding the two replicas are available on request.


TOPICS: Health/Medicine; History
KEYWORDS: godsgravesglyphs
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1 posted on 02/13/2011 4:58:19 PM PST by decimon
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To: SunkenCiv; neverdem

Cairo toe ping.


2 posted on 02/13/2011 4:58:59 PM PST by decimon
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To: decimon
Walk like an Egyptian
3 posted on 02/13/2011 5:02:29 PM PST by freedumb2003 (The TOTUS-reader is a Judas Goat, leading the American sheeple to the slaugherhouse /Parmy)
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To: freedumb2003

I’d walk a mile for a camel toe.


4 posted on 02/13/2011 5:08:06 PM PST by decimon
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To: decimon

Of course there is no way in heck I can post the appropriate graphic... ;)


5 posted on 02/13/2011 5:09:37 PM PST by freedumb2003 (The TOTUS-reader is a Judas Goat, leading the American sheeple to the slaugherhouse /Parmy)
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To: decimon

Oh ?

6 posted on 02/13/2011 5:12:54 PM PST by fieldmarshaldj (~"This is what happens when you find a stranger in the Amber Lamps !"~~)
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To: freedumb2003

I was madly in love with Susannah Hoffs...she has some of the most beautiful, captivating eyes God ever stuck in a skull. Saw her on TV within the past year or so...she has held up exceptionally well!


7 posted on 02/13/2011 5:15:07 PM PST by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum)
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To: decimon

I dont get the connection.....


8 posted on 02/13/2011 6:28:36 PM PST by Red Badger (Want to be surprised? Google your own name. Want to have fun? Google your friend's names.....)
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To: Red Badger

The picture? The character is Joel Cairo. And he has a cane.


9 posted on 02/13/2011 6:38:26 PM PST by decimon
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To: decimon; StayAt HomeMother; Ernest_at_the_Beach; 1010RD; 21twelve; 24Karet; 2ndDivisionVet; ...

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Thanks decimon. A sandal with a prosthetic big toe, dating from the Late Kingdom period I think, was found about ten year ago, now I'd better read your article link to see if it's mentioned. :')

Wow, it's a file from December 2000. Actually, two. And both links worked: To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list.
 

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10 posted on 02/13/2011 6:38:38 PM PST by SunkenCiv (The 2nd Amendment follows right behind the 1st because some people are hard of hearing.)
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To: decimon

What is that a picture of?


11 posted on 02/13/2011 6:43:13 PM PST by tbw2 (Freeper sci-fi - "Sirat: Through the Fires of Hell" - on amazon.com)
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To: fieldmarshaldj

Is the foot on the left a prosthetic?


12 posted on 02/13/2011 6:43:45 PM PST by tbw2 (Freeper sci-fi - "Sirat: Through the Fires of Hell" - on amazon.com)
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To: decimon

Oh, I thought it was Peter Lorry from The Crawling Hand movie!.......


13 posted on 02/13/2011 6:50:21 PM PST by Red Badger (Want to be surprised? Google your own name. Want to have fun? Google your friend's names.....)
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To: tbw2

It’s from The Maltese Falcon. The character is Joel Cairo. He’s holding a cane.


14 posted on 02/13/2011 6:50:44 PM PST by decimon
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To: Red Badger

Well, it is Peter Lorre.


15 posted on 02/13/2011 6:52:38 PM PST by decimon
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To: decimon

Is it from The Beast With Five Fingers?....aka, The Crawling Hand


16 posted on 02/13/2011 6:55:58 PM PST by Red Badger (Want to be surprised? Google your own name. Want to have fun? Google your friend's names.....)
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To: Red Badger

The Maltese Falcon.


17 posted on 02/13/2011 7:00:13 PM PST by decimon
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To: fieldmarshaldj

Ralph Kramden?


18 posted on 02/13/2011 7:24:04 PM PST by Lockbar (March toward the sound of the guns.)
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To: decimon; SunkenCiv

interesting that prosthetic makers had found a toe-hold in the medical marketplace thousands of years ago.

probably kept an eye out for good prospects, eh?


19 posted on 02/13/2011 11:25:22 PM PST by wildbill (You're just jealous because the Voices talk only to me.)
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To: wildbill

Probably this example came about because of a case of Tolio.


20 posted on 02/14/2011 4:27:37 PM PST by SunkenCiv (The 2nd Amendment follows right behind the 1st because some people are hard of hearing.)
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