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CS 100 Doctor's Pen


Jopen

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I find that the cadduceus is not the proper sign for a doctor. This should be the rod of Asklepios, or Aesculap rod/staff (single snake curling around a staff)

The cadduceus is actually the sign of mercurius that somehow started to get used, improperlu, as a medical sign.

 

Many members here on FPN are doctors and enjoy fountainpens and writing with them. Writing with a good fountainpen helps you focus your thoughts on the writing. That can never be wrong when you are dealing with the health and lives of other people.

 

I agree with RMN on both counts.

 

The proper symbol for medicine should be the Rod of Aesculapius (rod + one serpent). Aesculapius was the son of Apollo, and was venerated by the Ancient Romans and Greeks as their god of medicine. Two of his daughters were Panakeia (i.e. panacea) and Hygieia (i.e. hygiene). The Caduceus (winged rod + two serpents) is actually the symbol of Mercury (Roman) or Hermes (Greek) who doubled as messenger of the gods as well as god of commerce. For this reason, the Caduceus symbol is often associated with postal services and commercial enterprises. In North America, the Caduceus is often associated with medicine but, I suspect, only because it has been confused with the Rod of Aesculapius.

 

The claim that real surgeons (and other doctors) do not use fountain pens is utter nonsense.

 

You are absolutely correct. The Cadueceus was used in error by the US Army Medical Corps in 1902 (see http://www.defence.gov.au/health/infocentr...lth_9_2_84.pdf). The irony doesn't end with Hermes being the god of commerce. He was also the god of thieves...

 

 

 

 

Control thy passions lest they take vengence on thee.

 

-- Epictetus (55-135 AD)

 

 

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/606/letterji9.png

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<!--quoteo(post=1028912:date=Apr 22 2009, 09:53 AM:name=itsthedude)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (itsthedude @ Apr 22 2009, 09:53 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1028912"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=954327:date=Feb 27 2009, 05:41 PM:name=RMN)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (RMN @ Feb 27 2009, 05:41 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=954327"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->If the rest of the design and the price is right, I'm game....

 

 

D.ick<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

+1

<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

 

+2

 

+3

Count me in!

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I was pondering the posts on the Cadueceus and the rod of Aesculapius and I decided to take a closer look at a bronze statue of Aesculapius tha my neice brought back from Greece. I noticed on the literature that came with it that he was represented as the "god of medicine". In his hand was a bowl--a serpent was wrapped around the arm holding the bowl with its head raised and looking down into the bowl. The serpent and bowl is also the representation of the arts of Pharmacy, ie. the bowl of hygiea. So I guess that a pen with a representation of the rod and serpent would also work for Pharmacists. I would be interested in such a pen provided it isn't too dear for a Pharmacist's salary. Count me in.

Secundum Artem

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