The abortion procedure has been known since ancient times. The word abortion derives from the Latin abortus where “ab” means “failure” and “oriri” means “likely to be born, to arise”.(1) Together with infanticide it has existed in many societies, both primitive and advanced. The first evidence of an abortive technique dates back to approximately 4,600 years ago, to an ancient Chinese work, presumably the work of Emperor Shen Nung, which prescribes the use of mercury to induce an abortion. (3) In ancient times, pessaries or vaginal suppositories were used as abortifacients. (1) They are generally more effective than oral medications and include substances such as the juice of the wild fig, a "milk liquid," which caused irritation, soapwort, myrrh, myrtle, lupine, cedar oil mixed with water, wine or hot oil.(1) Ancient doctors also suggested spreading goose fat, leek and celery puree, rose oils, pine resin on the uterine opening , copper scum, boiled honey, soda ash, and even mouse dung.(1) The Egyptian Kahun Papyrus, which dates back to 1850 BC, recommends crocodile feces both to prevent conception and as an abortifacient.(2) The Ebers Papyrus , which dates back to 1550 BC, contains several recipes that "cause a woman to terminate her pregnancy in the first, second or third period." (2) A recipe for a vaginal suppository involves mixing the unripe fruit of acacia, colocynth, dates and 6/7 liters of honey and pouring the mixture onto a moistened vegetable fiber. (2) Modern Arab women still take colocynth as an abortifacient, although one woman who took 120 powdered grains died 50 hours later. (2) Elephant feces were often recommended in Arab medicine. (2) Aristotle suggests that the conceived child had a “soul” 40 days after conception if male and 90 if female. (2) Furthermore, there are similar differentiations in the Bible. (2) Later Aristotle says that the fetus develops gradually and that it is impossible to make a precise judgment. Famous physicians such as Pliny the Elder, Dioscorides, and Pseudo Galen mention more “superstitious” abortifacients, such as passing over the root of a cyclamen, a crow's egg, a snake, or a stone bitten by a dog. Ancient physicians also used pessaries, or vaginal suppositories, as abortifacients. They were usually more potent than oral medications and included substances such as wild fig juice, a “milky liquid” that caused irritation, soapwort, myrrh, myrtle, lupine, cedar oil mixed with water, wine, or hot oil. Doctors also recommend smearing goose fat, leek and celery puree, rose oils, pine resin, copper foam, boiled honey, soda ash and even mouse dung on the uterine opening..