Index Home All Illicit drugs were not always illegal. For centuries we used them in cultural & religious rituals, and also for healing. Addiction was considered more of a sinful individual behaviour, rather than a national threat. Things changed in the 19th century. Use of illicit drugs became explosive. Illicit drugs a bye product of development… Continue reading Illicit drugs and addiction
Author: rjoshimgims
Tobacco: A merchandise of death
Index Home For a good part of human history, most world was oblivious to tobacco. In 1492, natives in Central American new world gifted Columbus with various items, as he was embarking on a return journey. These included dried tobacco leaves. Natives used it in religious functions, and also as a currency. Currency it indeed was,… Continue reading Tobacco: A merchandise of death
Cancer: An antagonist in human story
Index Home Dear Cancer, For centuries you have slithered inside our bodies. You silently grow, wrapping all the structures that come your way. As you become big, you siphon away all the power and energy from me. While you bloom, I tragically wither. Usually when discovered, you have already broken my seams, and have travelled within… Continue reading Cancer: An antagonist in human story
Child art in postage stamps
Index Home World from a child’s perspective Children see, explore and understand the world from a fresh perspective. Their world is simple to begin-with and becomes complex as they grow. So does child-art. Scribble, pre-symbolism, symbolism and realism are four stages of child art. Early in age, art begins with a few scribbles. Thereafter, children make… Continue reading Child art in postage stamps
Nursing care: evolution of a profession
Index Home Every year 12 May is observed across the world as International Nursing Day. This is the birth Anniversary of Florence nightingale, who war born in the year 1840. She laid foundation for nursing as a profession, and established systems for nursing education across the world. Evolution of the profession Nursing is a parental instinct.… Continue reading Nursing care: evolution of a profession
Hospitals around the world: Different strokes for Ivory towers
Index Home Ivory-towers are places of seclusion. Its inmates are often busy in their own pursuits, unaware of the world outside. Critics often equate hospitals to ivory-towers, both from a position of strength and weakness. Regardless, hospitals house suffering as well as joy, pain as well as curse, deaths as well as births. In this blog… Continue reading Hospitals around the world: Different strokes for Ivory towers
Medical colleges and hospitals in India
Index Home Today India has more than 780 medical colleges, and about 64 standalone postgraduate institutes. There are more than 70,000 hospitals in India. Healthcare system in India is ancient. We first interacted with modern medicine through Portuguese physicians. However, British East India Company (EIC) established first hospitals. First modern hospital was Cogan’s house (west 1664)… Continue reading Medical colleges and hospitals in India
Heart dominates, but does it ?
Index Home Heart has a special place amongst all organs. While brain, blood, liver, skin and kidneys all work silently – heart is loud. It is the only one to beat, and to generate a perceptible pulse. Heart-beat and pulse are signs of life. Hence, dominant position of heart in all systems of medicine, should not… Continue reading Heart dominates, but does it ?
Diabetes, a bitter disease with plentiful sweet urine
Index Home A not so sweet disease Diabetes is a chronic disease. Individuals with diabetes have high blood sugars, pass more urine, and get more thirsty. While urine is sweet and sugar in blood is high, disease is not so sweet. Individuals need to restrict their diets, exercise more, and take tablets or insulin injection for… Continue reading Diabetes, a bitter disease with plentiful sweet urine
Small-pox: An enormous burden that was relieved in 1980
Index Home Small-pox had a high mortality, a third of all infected would die. Survivors would become blind, and carry a scarred face for life. Every infected person would have fever, followed by a typical skin-rash. Disease earned its name from the small-bumps that covered entire body. But, small it would not remain as it devastated… Continue reading Small-pox: An enormous burden that was relieved in 1980