Slithering serpents and health-care

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Towards the end of 20th century, JK Rowling created Harry Potter. Slytherin was one of its four houses. This house had serpent as a symbol, and its inmates were cunning, resourceful, took leadership roles, and were ambitious. Some consider Slytherins as evil, and others as a necessity. As in Harry Potter, slimy, slithering and hissing serpents have devilish traits. Even in Bible, it is a serpent who tempts Eve to consume a forbidden fruit.

On the other hand, many culture hold serpents in high esteem. In Hindu mythology, serpents are guardians and saviours. They hold universe (sheshnag), contain deadly poisons (Vasuki), but can also become vengeful (Takshaka). In Judaism, Moses had erected a bronze snake on a staff, which had healing powers. It is likely that this was an inspiration of or from the Greeks. Aborigines, Chinese, and Mayan myths bestow serpents with magical powers. Despite many contradictions global health-care community has held on to serpents, almost like its cult-figure !!

Asclepius: A healer with a serpent and a staff

In Greek mythology, Asclepius was a powerful healer. Son of Apollo, he could even bring back the dead. According to a myth, these actions had a potential to disturb the balance between the living and the dead. As a consequence Zeus, King of Gods killed Asclepius with a thunderbolt. He also bestowed Asclepius with a posthumous honour and made him a constellation in the sky. Regardless, Asclepius continued to heal, by coming in dreams of the sick. Asclepius’s staff with a coiled serpent became a symbol for the entire medical community.

Why would a healer carry a serpent ? Snakes are dangerous, they bite and kill. These harms, are outbalanced by perceived benefits. Snakes also indicate wisdom, longevity, and rebirth. They can shed their old skin, and adorn new. Thus, we equate snakes with an eternal youth. In most cultures, earth is a living space, and underworld or netherworld is hell. Snakes are a slithering connection between these two worlds. A physician, probably holds on to a snake as an intermediary between life and destruction. Many ancient cultures reaffirm a belief that “a physician draws its powers from a serpent”. Many such serpent stories are carefully crafted in an article by Nathan Williams (JAMA 1999).

A rod with a single snake

Today, a rod with a single snake is a dominant symbol. This has some minor cultural variations. Sometimes, head of the rod is big, has a mask like face, or is replaced by a cup. Some countries in the Middle-east Asia have also used red-crescent as a prop for the serpent.

In 1948, World Health Organization chose Asclepius’s staff and single serpent as its logo. United Nations logo (world map and two olive branches) is forms its backdrop. Today, this logo is used widely across all continents.

Snake and a Bowl

A Cup or a bowl is a symbol of Hygieia. Daughter of Asclepius, she is a Greek goddess of health and sanitation. Hygieia used her bowl to mix herbs. Some health-care organisations use a snake and a bowl, as their symbol. In Israel, bowl is replaced by menorah, a sacred multi-branched candelabra used in Judaism.

If one was not enough, we have two

Ancient Sumerian seals from 1300 BC often show two inter-twined snakes. Another Greek myth describes two fighting snakes, and how mercury threw a rod to separate them. Hence, was born a symbol of two snakes, separated by a stick. Hermes, another figure from Greek mythology, adapted this symbol as his. He also gave two wings to the stick. Since, Hermes a messenger, required a lot of travel – Wings were quite handy. This symbol, known as Caduceus, is actually a symbol of commerce and merchandise.

John Churchill, was a British Publisher of medical books. In 1837 he used a wrong symbol of two snakes, and a winged staff in a book on practical surgery. American Medical Association (AMA), founded in 1847 found this symbol attractive. AMA adopted a wrong symbol as its logo. Later, many other medical bodies, and institutions followed suit. (Spot this symbol used by some Indian Medical institutes)

What is in a symbol ?

Wrong use of Caduceus as a medical symbol is widespread. Debate about this mistaken use is also well documented in medical literature. In 2005, American Medical Association changed its logo. Now it uses one, instead of two serpents in its logo. In India, this argument has even reached the court of law.

Maybe symbols matter, or maybe not. Many believe that this error is immaterial. Health-care has indeed become commercial, and hence use of Caduceus is justified. Others believe differently and want to correct the wrong. They believe that one snake heals, but more entangle.

Truth is singular, and lies are plural – the facts of what happened, is both immutable and mostly unknowable“

David Carr