Q 01/05

Which symbol, a single serpent on a staff, is the predominant symbol of medicine?

A) Egyptian ankh

B) Rod of Asclepius

C) Caduceus of Hermes

D) Ouroboros serpent

Answer · why

B) Rod of Asclepius

The two-snake, winged caduceus is often misused for the purpose.

Q 02/05

The caduceus, wrongly used as a medical symbol, is traditionally the symbol of which god?

A) Apollo

B) Zeus

C) Hermes

D) Asclepius

Answer · why

C) Hermes

Its adoption in US medicine came from misunderstandings of classical symbology.

Q 03/05

Where is the oldest manuscript containing the Hippocratic Oath held?

A) The Library of Congress

B) The Bodleian Library

C) The British Library

D) The Vatican Library

Answer · why

D) The Vatican Library

It dates to roughly the 10th to 11th century.

Q 04/05

Who wrote the widely used modern version of the Hippocratic Oath in 1964?

A) Jonas Salk

B) Louis Lasagna

C) Michael DeBakey

D) William Osler

Answer · why

B) Louis Lasagna

He was Academic Dean of Tufts University's medical school.

Q 05/05

What does the Latin word 'placebo' mean?

A) I shall sleep

B) I shall be pleasing

C) I shall deceive

D) I shall heal

Answer · why

B) I shall be pleasing

Its negative counterpart, nocebo, means 'I shall harm'.