Early Medics?

A paper in the journal Current Biology, describes a number of intriguing observations of Common chimpanzees. In these, one animal is seen to catch a flying insect, before applying it to a wound on a relative (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/08/chimpanzees-observed-treating-wounds-of-others-using-crushed-insects). The insect was first crushed in the mouth, before repeated applications to the wound were made. The 'patients' didn't seem to mind and it has been suggested the insects might have anti-inflammatory properties. The identities of captured insects have not been established. Some human medics are enthusiastic about using maggot therapy (blowflies) to treat wounds in our species. Wounds are quite commonly produced by conflict in chimpanzee social groups.