Medicine has been developing for several thousand years, today it is a serious science that has accumulated knowledge and experience. Naturally, those symbols and signs that are used today by medical institutions and organizations have their own history of origin and a very deep meaning.
Red Cross
The well-known worldwide emblem of the International Red Cross Movement was first used in 1863. Its prototype is the Swiss flag - a white cross on a red background, but only with a change to a red cross on a white background.
The movement itself was organized by a Geneva journalist, who was shocked by what he saw at the Battle of Solferino, which he witnessed. Returning home, he wrote a book and subsequently created the "Geneva Welfare Society", which at that time consisted of only five people.
Currently, the organization has a number of designating signs, for example, the red crescent, introduced during its work in the Ottoman Empire, tk. in Muslim countries, the cross is associated with the crusaders. The red crystal (an alternative to the rejected Star of David as the emblem of the ICRC in Israel), the red lion and the sun also acquired official status.
Bowl with a snake
An even more ancient symbol is a bowl with a snake. The appearance of such a sign is associated with the use of snake venom to treat patients. Such a respected physician as Avicenna used snake venom to make antidotes, as well as to treat certain diseases.
Cleopatra, noticing how easily the snake rejuvenates, changing its skin, began to use it to prolong youth (in any case, tried to use it on slaves). It has also been known since ancient times that snake venom in small doses and it itself are very beneficial to health. Snakes ascended almost like deities, as evidenced by the staff of Asclepius - a stick wrapped around a snake, according to legend, it belongs to the ancient Greek god of medicine.
The bowl is of no less importance: it was in the bowls that fresh water was stored, which was in short supply at that time and was vital for healing.
In addition to these symbols, there are others. Each sign is associated with a specific fact or history, as in the case of the red cross, it appeared when people wanted to help those suffering from war and disasters. Either as a result of some achievement or discovery, an example of this is the presence of a snake on the symbols of medicine.
