Asklepian Veterinarian Symbol
At once heart- quickening and clinically fascinating, the stories in this remarkable collection represent some of the most moving and unusual cases ever taken on by zoological vets. A chronicle of discovery, compassion, and cutting-edge medicine, THE RHINO WITH GLUE-ON SHOES is must reading for animal lovers, science buffs and anyone who loves a well-told tale.
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The Asklepian, or rod of Asklepios, is a symbol of medical healing that has its origins in Greek mythology. The Greco-Roman god of Healing, Asklepios (Asclepius), carried a wooden staff encircled by a serpent. There are various theories about Asklepios’ choice of symbol.
The staff symbolizes authority, while the colubrid snake, probably a rat snake (Elaphus) shedding its skin, symbolizes rebirth and fertility. Alternatively, when Asklepios was examining a man struck by a lightning bolt from Zeus, a snake appeared. The startled healer killed the snake; a second snake appeared, carrying herbs which it placed in the mouth of the dead snake, reviving it. Asklepios successfully treated the man with the same medicine. It may also be that the symbol derives from the common practice of removing the burrowing worm (Dracunculus medinensis) by using a stick to twirl around the parasite while pulling it out.
It turns out that several medical organizations chose use a similar but very different symbol, the caduceus of Mercury, Roman god of Messengers, Incantations, and Protector of Thieves. Mercury’s symbol (also the symbol of the Greek god Hermes) is a wand with two snakes wrapped around it signifying everything from greed to mystical power and sending souls to the underworld. Apparently, the army medical corp. adopted the wrong symbol in 1902 and numerous others made the same mistake. The correct symbol for healing the sick through medicine is the wooden staff with one serpent!