A historical account of the doctor's bag.
BACKGROUND
A household phrase of yesteryear was the doctor's 'little black bag'. Where did this phrase come from and how did it evolve?


OBJECTIVE
The objective of the article is to outline the history of the medical bag and its contents, from early times to the present day, by using library research methodology.


CONCLUSIONS
The first mention of a medical bag is in the Hippocratic Corpus around 350 BCE. This demonstrates that since ancient times, medical practitioners have carried some equipment and medications with them when they visited their patients, the exact contents changing over time.
MBBS, MA, MMed, GradDipA, DipVen, GradCertAddSt, is Honorary Senior Lecturer, Department of General Practice, and Honorary Research Associate, School of Historical Studies, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria.
David
D
Dammery
D019719:Diagnostic Equipment / Q000266:history*; D058006:General Practice / Q000266:history* / Q000295:instrumentation; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans