Index Home Our body is a collection of cells, that give shape to our organs, structure, function, thoughts, language, and behaviour. We are a collection of about 30 trillion cells and 38 trillion bacteria who live within. Each of these cells have a beginning. It was a single cell when our lives began, and then over… Continue reading How big and complex is our genetic code: A philately journey
Category: Health concepts
Healthy, well, happy, quality
Stethoscope: An integral tool in medical practice
Index Home First stethoscope was invented only in 1816. While this 200 year old instrument, is quite synonymous with medical practice, it is more of a physician’s tool. It has evolved, both in its appearance, as well as its utility. It has the same mysticism, as the symbol of medicine – the staff and the intertwined… Continue reading Stethoscope: An integral tool in medical practice
When sun, air, water and food treated Tuberculosis
Index Home Let’s begin this story in 1906. This is the year of first ever postage stamp on tuberculosis (TB). On 21st December, Netherlands issued a postage stamp. This was a semi-postal Christmas charity, where postal authorities sold 1c, 3c, 5c stamps at double the price. One half went to postage. They gave the other to… Continue reading When sun, air, water and food treated Tuberculosis
Medical books and journals in postal stamps
Index Home Every budding doctor needs to read many books. These medical books are not only an integral part of training, but also a companion for life. Today, in this world of information explosion, books compete with journals. Journals are a collection of periodic updates, newer thoughts, and renewed experiences. With innumerable medical books and about… Continue reading Medical books and journals in postal stamps
Compassion in healthcare and its imagery in postage stamps
Index Home Empathy and compassion are integral to healthcare. Most patients seek care when they have discomfort, infirmity or incapacitation. Compassion is a concern for another person’s discomfort. It is not possible to provide care, without concern. However people have different concern-reactions. For some it is a mere obligation, to listen and to abruptly close the… Continue reading Compassion in healthcare and its imagery in postage stamps
Why we think & do, what we think & do ?
Index Home Our behaviour is shaped by our thoughts and actions. Each of us has a different behaviour, even when external situations are similar. Psychology is the science that analyses our behaviour, thoughts, and consequent actions. Like medicine, psychology is also an imperfect science. Explanations about our behaviour, thoughts and feelings is often based on certain… Continue reading Why we think & do, what we think & do ?
Our transition from food & hunger to health & nutrition
Index Home To the world of postage stamps, sixties was a time of global omnibuses. First such occasion was the year 1960 itself, when many countries of the world issued postage stamps on refugees(previous blog). In 1962 we created a malaria omnibus (previous malaria blog). Both these initiatives raised awareness as well as funds for their… Continue reading Our transition from food & hunger to health & nutrition
Count, analyze and interpret: Data for health
Index Home Latin word datum means ‘to give’. In english this word means a ‘single piece of information‘. As information grows from singular to pleural, it becomes ‘data’. We subconsciously collect and process data all the time. For instance, a mere look at the watch tells us minutes, which our brain processes as remaining time for… Continue reading Count, analyze and interpret: Data for health
“Hospital on a train” & its postage stamps
Index Home We have all heard the story of James Watt, who probably inspired by a fluttering lid of a kettle, invented steam engine in 1769. About 35 years later, Richard Trevithick, a British engineer developed first steam-engine powered locomotive. Thereafter, trains ruled surface transport, as automobiles were more than a century away. By 1850s, passenger… Continue reading “Hospital on a train” & its postage stamps
Telecom and health in 1980 and origins of Telemedicine
Index Home About four decades ago, in 1980 there was no public internet (or World Wide Web). While idea of internet (or connected computers) did exist, it started taking shape only in 1990s. Unlike today, we did not have compact personnel computers, or laptops and even mobile phones. All these developments were also a decade away.… Continue reading Telecom and health in 1980 and origins of Telemedicine