Los Símbolos y la Medicina

Resumen

Symbolism constitutes one of the most archaic forms of human thoughts. Symbol, which derives from the Latin word symbolum, and this from the Greek symbolon or symballo, which means “I coincide, I make matches”. The Medicine symbol represents a whole series of historical and ethical values. The Rod of Asclepius, with a serpent entwined, has traditionally being the symbol of scientific medicine, however, and in error since 500 years ago, people takes the Caduceus of Hermes, entwined by two serpents and with two wings, as the symbol of Medicine, being the Caduceus the current symbol of Commerce. The Rod of Asclepius and the Caduceus of Hermes represent two professions, Medicine and Commerce that, in ethical practice, should not be mixed. The fact that doctors know their own emblem and its historical origin and meaning must be of academic interest and not just a simple curiosity.