Lunatic asylums: Borne out of shame and contempt
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…
Three implants to mend heart: Stent, Valve and a Defibrillator
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 Rise and fall of Mass Miniature Radiography (MMR)
Around 1950s Mass miniature radiography or MMR was a cornerstone of public health screening for Tuberculosis. It was a mobile X-ray unit that roamed villages, towns and cities, photographing the…
Helmholtz made it possible to look inside the eye
It is extremely rare for a medical doctor to eventually become a Professor of physics. Further, he not only invented opthalmoscope - an instrument we use to look inside an…
Heparin: A blood drug first found in Liver
Heparin a naturally occurring substances in many animals. It is an important drug to treat heart attacks and clots in our arteries and veins. We also use it when we…
Ensuring basic health needs: A concept with many names
Index Home Health is dear to all, and we all strive to be in pink of our health all the time. Principles of health maintenance are simple, though repetitive actions. While…
Aspirin: Aspiration for a wonder-drug
Index Home The name "Aspirin" is a brand name for one of the most popular low-cost medicines. Despite a low cost, and almost 125 years of usage, it still has about…
Legacy of “Foresight prevents blindness” campaign
Index Home 1976 is a landmark year for Global Blindness Prevention. After years of apathy, blindness prevention and control was on World Health Organisation (WHO) agenda. Only a year ago in…
The art and science of sight; looking into ones eyes
Index Home Eyes have always intrigued us. Eyes reflect our intent, emotions, wisdom, and even romance. While science attributes eyes with sight, for art and literature these are windows of our…
To perform in a theater, sans its audience
Index Home A theater it is, with performances that are all a matter of life and death. It is not an act, but all that happens is real. Human lives are…