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A historical account of the doctor's bag
1MBBS, MA, MMed, GradDipA, DipVen, GradCertAddSt, is Honorary Senior Lecturer, Department of General Practice, and Honorary Research Associate, School of Historical Studies, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria.
Background:
A household phrase of yesteryear was the doctor's 'little black bag'. Where did this phrase come from and how did it evolve?
Objective:
The objective of the article is to outline the history of the medical bag and its contents, from early times to the present day, by using library research methodology.
Discussion:
The first mention of a medical bag is in the Hippocratic Corpus around 350 BCE. This demonstrates that since ancient times, medical practitioners have carried some equipment and medications with them when they visited their patients, the exact contents changing over time.
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