Many posts ago (11/10/10 -- Obituary Tells a Story http://renraeretire.blogspot.com/2010/11/obituary-tells-story.html), I promised you an explanation of the origin of the symbol of Medicine, the Caduceus. There is only one problem: I had the Caduceus mixed up with another symbol, the Staff of Asclepius which is the true symbol of Medicine. So if a doctor doesn't even know the symbol of her own profession, I thought that this might be an opportunity for education, as I educate myself.
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Which is the symbol of medical care? Confused. Don't feel bad. I am a doctor and I didn't know the answer. I have certainly seen the first used to symbolize different forms of medical care, but had only a vague recollection of seeing the second symbol. The origin and use of these two symbols is quite interesting. Like most things that are very old, their story is long and convoluted, and many beliefs contribute to what is now accepted in the modern world.
