The Caduceus Versus the Rod of Asclepius as a Symbol of Medicine

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ByCrossFitMarch 16, 2019

In contemporary U.S. culture, the caduceus, which depicts two snakes winding around a staff, is widely used as a symbol of medicine. However, prior to the 19th century, there is limited use of the caduceus in a medical context. In ancient Greece and Rome, for example, the caduceus represented Hermes and Mercury, respectively, and the Rod of Asclepius was widely associated with medicine. While some printers used the caduceus on medical documents, this more likely represented the printer reprising its use to symbolize Mercury, a messenger or scribe, than directly to indicate medical content. The Rod of Asclepius, on the other hand, clearly was associated with medicine.

The Caduceus (left) as the symbol for the U.S. Army Medical Corps and the rod of Asclepius (right) as the symbol for emergency services.

In the 1850s, however, the caduceus began to appear on the chevrons of Army hospital stewards, and later it was designated as the seal of the Marine Hospital Service. By 1902, it had been adopted by the Army Medical Department. Contemporary reports suggest this was done in part for aesthetic reasons, and in part due to ignorance of the distinction between the caduceus and Rod of Asclepius. Col. John R. van Hoff argued there was no confusion. He claimed the caduceus was chosen, per its original association with Mercury, to symbolize merchant — and so non-combatant — status, a reference to the fact that many of the men displaying it supported medical efforts but were not medical practitioners themselves. After World War I, the caduceus would be adopted by the Navy Hospital Corps as well.

More recently, both symbols continue to be used in a medical context. The current Army Medical Department and U.S. Air Force medical insignias both bear the Rod of Asclepius. Health-care organizations frequently use either symbol, with professional associations more likely to display the Rod of Asclepius and commercial organizations and hospitals more likely to use the caduceus.

Comments on The Caduceus Versus the Rod of Asclepius as a Symbol of Medicine

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Matthieu Dubreucq
December 8th, 2019 at 12:23 pm
Commented on: The Caduceus Versus the Rod of Asclepius as a Symbol of Medicine

Good to know where it comes from.

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Shakha Gillin
March 19th, 2019 at 12:38 am
Commented on: The Caduceus Versus the Rod of Asclepius as a Symbol of Medicine

The rod originates from the God of Asclepius, representing healing and medicine. The caduceus originates from the God of Hermes, representing commerce and trade as well as thieves and liars. There has been confusion as to the use of the caduceus instead of the rod. While questioning the inappropriateness of the caduceus to represent the field of medicine, one has to wonder which better represents the current stare of the health care system. The use of both in healthcare is symbolic....somewhere along the way, the business of medicine hijacked the field of healing.

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Sean Rockett
March 17th, 2019 at 12:55 am
Commented on: The Caduceus Versus the Rod of Asclepius as a Symbol of Medicine

I was able to visit the Sanctuary at Epidauros where Asclepius tried to help people. The inscription under his statue showed the mainstay of his treatment consisted of diet and exercise. Let’s get back to basics.

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