The Rod of Asclepius, left, with a single snake, is the symbol of medicine. Unfortunately, a large number of commercial American medical organizations instead use the caduceus, right, which has two snakes. Asclepius was the Greek god of healing, but the caduceus was wielded by Hermes and connotes commerce, negotiation, and trickery. The confusion began when the American military began using the caduceus in the late 19th century, and it persists today. In a survey of 242 healthcare logos…
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