Disease and Healing in the Indus Civilisation

This book provides insights into health, disease, and healing in the Indus Civilisation during the third to early second millennia BCE. Based on original research, it examines skeletal remains, material culture, and environmental factors. The book sheds light on diseases, healing practices, and public health in this ancient civilizat

Disease and Healing in the Indus Civilisation presents a synthesis of what is currently known about health, disease and healing in the Indus Civilisation in the third to early second millennia BCE, underpinned by original research. It is the result of a detailed study of published human skeletal remains and material culture, with an increasing awareness of the natural environment. When combined with a knowledge of palaeoepidemiology and the natural history of disease, ancient climate change, and what is known of healing and health in contemporary Bronze Age societies of the Near East, with which the Indus Civilisation was in contact, it has been possible to piece together a picture of diseases in the period, the practice of healing and the development of public health. For the first time, the book illustrates the health, life expectancy, and the illnesses and injuries from which those at the bottom of society suffered, both at work and at home.

Introduction Chapter One: The Indus Civilisation Chronology Pre-Harappan Phase Early Harappan (or Pre-Urban) Phase Mature (or Urban) Harappan Phase Late Harappan (or Post-Urban) Phase Climate Chapter Two: Health and Population Introduction Disease, Parasites and Sedentism Nutrition Migration Urbanisation Women Children Health and the Late Harappan Phase Climate change, health, disease and migration in the Late Harappan Phase Chapter Three: Disease and Trauma Childbirth Congenital and Other Deformities Infections and Infectious Diseases: an overview Zoonotic Diseases and Diseases of Agriculture Tuberculosis Infections Tetanus Leprosy (Hansen's Disease) Other Diseases of Urbanisation Smallpox Rabies Ophthalmic Diseases Metabolic and Nutritional Disease Environmental Disorders and Famine Neoplastic Disease Malaria Traumatic Injuries Osteoarthritis and other Degenerative Diseases of Bone Dental Disease Conclusion Chapter Four: Diseases Of Occupation Physical Stress Craft Specialisation Textile Workers Jute Metal Workers Bead Makers Seal Carvers Sewer Cleaners Builders, Carpenters and Bricklayers Herders Other Occupations Chapter Five: Public Health and Sanitation Water Supply The Great Bath of Mohenjo-daro Domestic Bathing and Toilet Facilities Urban Drainage and Sewage Other Sites Discharge Chapter Six: Healing and Medicine Healing and Religion Medical Practice Dentistry Medical and Surgical Instruments and Equipment The Materia Medica Chapter Seven: Epilogue Bibliography,

Introduction

Chapter One: The Indus Civilisation

Chronology

Pre-Harappan Phase

Early Harappan (or Pre-Urban) Phase

Mature (or Urban) Harappan Phase

Late Harappan (or Post-Urban) Phase

Climate

Chapter Two: Health and Population

Introduction

Disease, Parasites and Sedentism

Nutrition

Migration

Urbanisation

Women

Children

Health and the Late Harappan Phase

Climate change, health, disease and migration in the Late Harappan Phase

Chapter Three: Disease and Trauma

Childbirth

Congenital and Other Deformities

Infections and Infectious Diseases: an overview

Zoonotic Diseases and Diseases of Agriculture

Tuberculosis

Infections

Tetanus

Leprosy (Hansen’s Disease)

Other Diseases of Urbanisation

Smallpox

Rabies

Ophthalmic Diseases

Metabolic and Nutritional Disease

Environmental Disorders and Famine

Neoplastic Disease

Malaria

Traumatic Injuries

Osteoarthritis and other Degenerative Diseases of Bone

Dental Disease

Conclusion

Chapter Four: Diseases Of Occupation

Physical Stress

Craft Specialisation

Textile Workers

Jute

Metal Workers

Bead Makers

Seal Carvers

Sewer Cleaners

Builders, Carpenters and Bricklayers

Herders

Other Occupations

Chapter Five: Public Health and Sanitation

Water Supply

The Great Bath of Mohenjo-daro

Domestic Bathing and Toilet Facilities

Urban Drainage and Sewage

Other Sites

Discharge

Chapter Six: Healing and Medicine

Healing and Religion

Medical Practice

Dentistry

Medical and Surgical Instruments and Equipment

The Materia Medica

Chapter Seven: Epilogue

Bibliography

• By (author) Robert Arnott

'The monograph is well written and illustrated, with tables and figures. The subject has been extensively researched, as evidenced by the comprehensive reference list and footnotes. The book is attractively presented, a delight to read, and is a serious and scholarly tome. The author has made an outstanding contribution to knowledge of this ancient civilisation.' – Arpan K. Banerjee (2024): Hektoen International

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