Author: rjoshimgims

Bassini and his injury Edoardo Bassini was an Italian surgeon, and as the fate would have it he devoted his life for a perfect hernia repair. Born in 1844, he graduated in basic medicine at a young age of 22. Nationalism pushed him to the war-zone. In 1867 an enemy bayonet pierced his right groin,… Continue reading Bassini led the way for a perfect hernia repair

The prize It was 1906, and the Nobel committee declared that that years Prize for medicine was to be given for visualization of Neurons. It was to be shared by Camillo Golgi from Italy, and Ramon Y Cajal from Spain. These two pathologists had both seen the previously unseen neurons. In fact Cajal had improvised… Continue reading Golgi and Cajal: Two adversaries who shared a Nobel Prize

On 19th August 2025, Sickle Cell elimination mission announced that it had completed screening of 6 crore individuals. As of now the program envisages screening entire population (upto 18 years of age) in tribal dominated districts of 17 states of India (Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra… Continue reading Sickle cell elimination is on a mission mode

Advent of Lunatic Asylums in India British traders came to India in the 17th century, and over next 150 years became colonialists. The year 1757 is considered as a turning point in Indian history, as after battle of Plassey, British East India company (EIC) became a political and governing entity. Along with the loot, plunder,… Continue reading Lunatic asylums: Borne out of shame and contempt

Finsen’s chemical light to heal Niels Finsen was born in 1860 in Faroe Islands, a remote Danish territory located in the North Atlantic between Iceland and Norway. He lived on for only 44 years, and had his struggles with a rare congenital disease. Yet, he went on to become a doctor, and treat many a… Continue reading Finsen’s Nobel Prize for letting light to heal

I learned a new word today – Chiaroscuro. It is a art technique, often used to emphasize and illuminate important figures in a painting or drawing. This technique uses colors and shades, to contrast between light and dark. The concept was picked up from renascence era paintings, and is commonly used in photography, and cinema… Continue reading ‘Chiaroscuro’ to depict conflict or state of mind

What is bullying ? Today bullying itself is not considered to be a disorder. On the other hand a victim of bullying could develop a post-bullying disorder. Strange it may sound, bullying itself is classified as a behavioral trait. Anti-bullying alliance defines it as “The repetitive, intentional hurting of one person or group by another… Continue reading Bullying: A behavior on its way to become a disorder ?

The word Autism comes from Greek, for “self-directed”. In-fact this new word was coined only in the year 1908 by a Psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler, to describe some patients who were extremely withdrawn. Later in 1920s, a Russian psychologist Grunya Sukhareva described some children with amazing abilities, who would shy away from expected social contact. In… Continue reading Autism Jigsaw Symbol: Time for a change ?

Three implants for the heart have changed the outcomes of heart disease – namely stents, artificial valves, and an implantable defibrillator. Stents can now open a tiny blood vessel supplying the heart muscles (coronaries). Artificial valves can replace a damaged native valve inside the heart and can now also be inserted without opening up the… Continue reading Three implants to mend heart: Stent, Valve and a Defibrillator

Christiaan Barnard was made famous on 3rd December 1967, when he performed first human to human heart transplant in Cape Town, South Africa. He was just 45 when he performed this first dare, and would repeat the feat in years to come. It was Barnard’s conviction and persistence that inspired many across the world to… Continue reading Christiaan Barnard, and his heart transplants