A mirror of the past and our wall of shame
Index Home Postage stamps are a mirror of our past. Often, less than a square inch of space, sums up prevalent societal, political, and behavioural norms. Our past perceptions, as well…
Medical services in the sky
Index Home During First World War we began to use airplanes, both as a weapon and as a medical service. In 1917, a British plane evacuated a solder with a broken…
Medical innovations in British stamps
Index Home Postage stamp was a British innovation. First introduced on 6th May 1840, it was a beginning for pre-paid postage, we still follow world-wide. Since then British postage stamps have…
Two tools for child survival: ORS & Growth charts
Home Index Two ubiquitous child-survival tools, oral rehydration solutions (ORS) and growth charts, are less than 50 years old. Both of these tools are simple, intuitive, and logical. In the 1980s,…
Breast feeding: A preferred infant nutrition in postage stamps
Home Index Have you ever wondered about old baby-food advertisements. In these advertisements, we could see healthy-chubby infants and happy composed mothers. Once frequent on television and in print media, these…
We have a lot of nerve !!
Index Home All living beings react to their environment. Barring a few, all animals can see, hear, feel, smell and taste our surroundings. We all can also walk, jump, balance and…
Medical Imaging: Invisible rays make us see
Index Home It just happened one day Scientists were beginning to discover existence of invisible rays towards the end of 19th century. Physicists of the day, Humphry Davy, Micheal Faraday, Hemholtz…
Understanding diseases: truths exposed by a microscope
Index Home Emergence of a microscope Origin of microscope is shrouded in controversy. Various traders and workmen used lens for magnification as early as 12th-13th centuries. However, it would take four…
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,…
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…