Palm Trees and Potions: On Portuguese Pharmacy Signs

Re:Palm Trees and Potions: On Portuguese Pharmacy Signs by spqr0a1 on Thursday August 04, 2016 @02:53PM (#12227657)

I wonder if there's any connection to the snake on a staff widely used as a symbol of medicine. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_of_Asclepius

It which case its origin may be a representation of the treatment for guinea worm.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Palm Trees and Potions: On Portuguese Pharmacy Signs by dghughes on Thursday August 04, 2016 @04:26PM (#12228202)

I find it odd medical organizations in the USA use the symbol of the caduceus not the Rod of Asclepius I wonder how that came about.

I've read the caduceus is supposedly an ancient symbol or at least in some way connected to prostitution.

A bit of a faux pas to choose such a symbol!

[ Parent | on HN ]