Author: rjoshimgims

Surgical practices: A historic perspective of going under the scalpel

Index Home Journey of surgery till the Middle Ages Mankind has been affected with wounds, fractures, and outgrowths since antiquity. Various applicants to heal wounds and fractures have included honey, clay, oils, leaves, sulphur, bandaging and plastering. There are written as well as anthropological evidences of surgical practices in the ancient times, such as trephining of… Continue reading Surgical practices: A historic perspective of going under the scalpel

Look, Listen and Feel: The 19th Century physician

Index Home Listening the unseen Two exciting developments took place in early 19th century. Around 1750s Leopold Auenbrugger invented percussion, and in 1816 Laennec invented stethoscope, and thus auscultation. Leopold also discovered ‘fremitus‘ to feel sound on the chest wall, as it travels through the lungs. Before this physicians spoke with their patients, and could see… Continue reading Look, Listen and Feel: The 19th Century physician

Challenge the established

Index Home In medieval Europe, physicians analysed symptoms, examined excreta, and made their diagnoses. Medical therapies included diet, rest, sleep, exercise, or baths, or administration of emetics, purgatives or bleeding to get rid of the “bad substances / airs”. Surgeons treated fractures, dislocations, hernias and could perform amputation. Religion and medicine were inseparable. Hospitals were established and infirmaries were attached… Continue reading Challenge the established

Red Cross movement

Index Home Foundation of Red Cross In 1859, French-Sardinian alliance and Austrians fought battle of Solferino, a small town in Northern Italy. After the ward was over, more than 40,000 soldiers who were either dead or wounded lay in the battlefield, unattended. Moved by the sight, Henry Dunant a Swiss businessman who happened to be there, organised relief with help of… Continue reading Red Cross movement

Lets Save our children from diseases and hunger

Index Home Prelude to this blog “Healthy children indicate healthy society“ Wars bring worst aspects of any society. Wars also disproportionately affect children, as households are disrupted and schools get destroyed. End of First World War was similarly a turning point for child-health. Eglantyne Jebb and Dorothy Buxton, were English social reformers who set up… Continue reading Lets Save our children from diseases and hunger

Being a health-care worker

Index Home Who is a health-care worker ? I am one of about 60 million health-care workers in the world. That makes me among less than 1% of global population; a good enough reason to celebrate. Professionally trained doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and paramedical staff constitute about three-quarters of us, and others could be helpers, trolley-bearers,… Continue reading Being a health-care worker

Medicinal plants: herbs for health

Index Home Drug formulary of most traditional systems of medicine is based on plants. Human beings have always had plants as their companion. Tiny, small, large or gigantic; versatility in size, produce, and function of plants has always intrigued mankind. Prehistoric humans discovered that some plants are suitable for cultivation, others for their floral beauty,… Continue reading Medicinal plants: herbs for health

Traditional systems of healing

Index Home Unifying aim of all systems of healing is to restoring balance. Restoration of balance shifts “dis-ease” to “at-ease”. Health is essentially a balanced state between agonists & antagonists, stimulators & inhibitors, commensals & pathogens. Each system of healing has used different approaches. Many systems of healing from ancient and modern times co-exist. Term… Continue reading Traditional systems of healing