Continuing Bizarro‘s theme from Monday through Wednesday, today’s Waynoratu Nosferamanteau — a Wayno punmanteau based on the film title Nosferatu — examines Transylvanian dentitions:
(#1) In the tradition of Nosferattoo, Nosferachoo, and Nosferatoon, a Nosferatooth X-ray; I must say that that’s a truly splendid vampiric X-ray (if you’re puzzled by the odd symbols in the cartoon — Wayno says there are 5 in this strip — see this Page)
(I was going to wait to see what Friday and Saturday would bring us on Bizarro before posting this strip, but it brings up an issue in visual symbolism, manifested in Wayno’s adaptation of the two-serpent caduceus (surmounting a tooth) to serve as a symbol of dentistry.)
The asklepian and the caduceus. The one-serpent rod (symbolizing medicine and healing) versus the two-serpent staff (symbolizing messages and communication); I know, thy rod (of Asclepius / Aesculapius) and thy staff (of Hermes / Mercury), they comfort me (insert here some joke about Rod — there are many possible Rods (among them, McKuen, Serling, Steiger, Stewart) — and his staff — his stick, his corps of employees, his figurative penis — so there’s plenty of room to joke in).
From Wikipedia, first on the Rod of Asclepius:
In Greek mythology, the Rod of Asclepius …, also known as the … asklepian, is a serpent-entwined [wingless] rod wielded by the Greek god Asclepius [Roman Aesculapius], a deity associated with healing and medicine. In modern times, it is the predominant symbol for medicine and health care, although it is sometimes confused with the similar caduceus, which has two snakes and a pair of wings.
And then on the caduceus:
The caduceus … is the staff carried by [the messeger god] Hermes in Greek mythology … The same staff was borne by other heralds like Iris, the messenger of Hera. The short staff is entwined by two serpents, sometimes surmounted by wings. In Roman iconography, it was depicted being carried in the left hand of Mercury, the messenger of the gods [in Roman mythology].
…It is relatively common, especially in the United States, to find the caduceus, with its two snakes and wings, (mis)used as a symbol of medicine instead of the Rod of Asclepius, with only a single snake. This usage was popularized by the adoption of the caduceus as its insignia by the U.S. Army Medical Corps in 1902 at the insistence of a single officer …
The Rod of Asclepius is the dominant symbol for professional healthcare associations in the United States. One survey found that 62% of professional healthcare associations used the rod of Asclepius as their symbol. The same survey found that 76% of commercial healthcare organizations use the caduceus. The author of the study suggests that professional associations are more likely to have a historical understanding of the two symbols, whereas commercial organizations are more likely to be concerned with the visual impact a symbol will have on its sales.
The caduceus has appeared several times on this blog, always in association with Hermes / Mercury. But in the cartoon in #1, we see it used as a medical symbol. What about actual symbols for dentistry?
As you probably guessed, they go both ways. Here’s a dentistry logo (appearing on many sites) using the asklepian:
(#2) The rod (with a point): one snake, no wings
And then a dental caduceus logo (also appearing on many sites):
(#3) The staff (with a rounded head): two snakes, plus wings
Always count your snakes before leaving the store with your logo.