African and European literary scholars focus on serious issues in the society ranging from love, horror to challenges in the world especially leadership and their excesses through their writings. However, scanty attention has been paid to synergy between Literature and Medicine. Therefore, this paper deciphers both Literature and Medicine particularly the benefits of Bible as Literature to Medicine vice versa considering few verses in the Pentateuch. According to Allen Graham’s view of intertextuality, a text or idea that emanates from existing texts as urtext is considered to be the source of new text ( knowledge, or discipline). Findings revealed that Semmelweis Ignaz, a medical expert (father of hand washing in Gynecology) got his research from Bible- Leviticus 15:13 as Supreme Being instructed Moses to ask people to cleanse or wash themselves from any sickness or ailment with water. In addition, Zipporah, one of the earliest surgeons in Exodus 4:25 used a sharp stone to cut off the foreskin of her son succesfully without complication(s). This could serve as urtext to modern surgery. Therefore, this paper reveals the synergy between Literature or Bible and Medicine. It is recommended that literary scholars and medical experts should always read Bible to navigate for successful and promising Literature and Medicine.
Keywords: Intertextuality, biblical inscription, literature and medicine, urtext
