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 A not so small-pox
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1962 – A malaria story
Index Home Malaria is an infection, caused by a tiny bug – Plasmodium and its species. This bug enters human body by a mosquito-bite and multiplies, leading to fever. Bug also exits through a mosquito completing a cycle. Malaria cycle was discovered in 1897 by Ronald Ross, which earned him 1902 Nobel in Medicine. We however… Continue reading 1962 – A malaria story
Leprosy: Saga of an eternal discrimination
Index Home Leprosy is an infection, affecting skin and the nerves. We discovered organism causing this infection, Mycobacterium leprae in 1873, nine years before its more famous counterpart Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Saga of discrimination and leprosy is eternal. Society discriminated against sufferers of this disease, and scientific community against Dr Gerhard Hansen – a Norwegian Physician who… Continue reading Leprosy: Saga of an eternal discrimination
Fundraising for TB elimination
Index Home Need for Fundraising Discovery of TB-bacillus in 1882 was a landmark event. Excited by this discovery, next ask was to find a cure. Individuals who contracted TB included rich and the famous. Clamour for effective treatment was at a record high. Bernard Shaw depicted this in his famous play – A doctor’s dilemma. In… Continue reading Fundraising for TB elimination
Tuberculosis: A wasting illness
Index Home TB: A wasting affection of the Lungs Tuberculosis (also known as TB), is a disease with devastating health, social, economic and cultural consequences. Greeks called it pthisis, and Romans called it consumption. Both these words mean “getting wasted”, or to “whither away”. We also know it as “white plague“, with sufferers becoming pale, before… Continue reading Tuberculosis: A wasting illness
Selfless service in faraway lands: humanism in healthcare
Index Home Humanism: What does it entail ? Healthcare is often equated with self-less service. Healthcare providers are trained to be non-discriminatory, to view every sufferer as a human, regardless of race, religion, creed, social or economic status. This humanism is often a tough ideal to uphold, especially when conflicted with self-preservation, and financial well-being. Humanism… Continue reading Selfless service in faraway lands: humanism in healthcare
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 and Lenard were all experimenting on properties of cathode rays. Nikola Tesla had also noted in 1894 that invisible rays affect photographic plates. On 8th… Continue reading Medical Imaging: Invisible rays make us see
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 centuries for first crude microscope to take shape. Some historians claim that Zacharias Janssen invented microscope and telescope between 1580 and 1618. Others believe that… Continue reading Understanding diseases: truths exposed by a microscope
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