When this building was built in 1926, this symbol, the Caduceus, the staff of Mercury, meant communication and business, not health. Mercury is the messenger of the Roman gods, and his staff was used to as a symbol of travel, communication and business. Words like merchant, commerce and even mercenary all derive from Mercury.
Mercury welcomes you to 111 Sutter St. |
The true medical symbol is the staff of Asclepius, the Greek god of healing, which is a rod with a single snake wrapped around it – no wings. The snake, which sheds its skin, is a symbol of rebirth or renewal -- thus healing. Also, in ancient times, parasitic worms were common, and were removed by catching one end of the worm and winding it around a stick.
So why do most Americans associate the winged Caduceus with medicine?
In1902, a single misinformed officer in the United States Army insisted that Mercury's caduceus symbol be used on the uniforms of medical staff. During WWI and WWII an entire generation of Americans learned to incorrectly associate the winged Caduceus with medicine.
Today, the Caduceus is most often used in military or commercial settings, while the staff of Asclepius is used by professional or non-profit groups. Check out the logos of the World Health Organization and the American Medical Association, for example. Both use the correct symbol.
The building at 110 Sutter Street (shown below) is often called the Medical Dental Building but was in fact occupied by the French American Bank when the Caduceus was added to the front of the building in 1913.
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