title: [Use of bitumen in medicine throughout the ages].
abstract: Bitumen, which results of the storage of organic material and of the decomposition in process of time, was used since ancient times for cosmetic, art and the caulk of boats. So, mummies were treated by bitumen to improve their preservation. But bitumen was held to be useful to cure varying pulmonary, digestive, ENT troubles and even to set fractures. Besides, bitumen was used to realize the first photograph. In Iran, bitumen is yet used to improve the quality of the skin, but mixed with to limit its toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Unité de Parasitologie, Hôpital Bicètre, 78, rue du Général Ledere, 94275 Le Kremlin-Bicêtre.
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bourée
authors.forename: Marie-Madeleine
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Blanc-Valleron
authors.forename: Mansour
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ensaf
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ensaf
mesh_terms: D049690:History, Ancient; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000266:history*; D009106:Mummies / Q000266:history
chemical_list: D006838:Hydrocarbons; C006647:asphalt