Medicine in Antiquity Part 2 Prof (Col) Dr RN Basu • Therapeutics in Ayurveda • As per aurvedic therapeutic procedure there are five recorded procedures. These are: • Various kinds of massage • Anointment with oil, and • Yoga • Drugs came from well known plants • Example: • Senna was prepared from cassia and was used by vaidyas for two thousand years 2 • Surgery • Charaka and Sushruta achieved considerable success in surgery • Even transplant surgery was contemplated • Example: • Transplant of testes from ram was thought of as a cure of impotence • Ayurvedic treatise mentions about: • Caesarean section • Lithotomy • Couching the cataract • Tonsilectomy • Amputations, and • Plastic surgery 3 4 • These surgical traditions of Ayurveda posed considerable challenge to Western practices • In ancient India, the aurvedic surgeons attained considerable success without undertaking any dissection of human body • Sushruta taught that the human body must be studied by direct observation • This essential knowledge was required for practicing medicine and surgery • At that time, there was religious prohibition for dissecting human body • Sushruta’s innovative ways and methods could circumvent these barriers • The physicians could study the minutest details of human body • Whether later physicians practiced Sushuta’s method was not known 5 • Ayurveda was equated with Hindu system of medicine • Apart from Hinduism’s influence on Ayurveda, it also came under Buddhist influence • There was no separate Buddhists’s system of medicine • They were using the Ayurvedic system of medicine to treat patients • Many Buddhists scholar enriched Ayurveda by their positive contribution • Among them name of Nagarjuna was prominent • He developed methods to purify many medicinal preparations to make them non-toxic • During Buddhist prominence, a famous university near Patna was set up. This was the Nalanda university • It was claimed that Nagarjuna was associated with Nalanda University 6 7 A G N I V E S A • Unani medical system • Muslims made noteworthy contribution in the field of medicine • The Muslim rulers introduced unani system of medicine in India • The word unani is an Indian version of Greek medicine Ionia • Unani system was founded by Hippocrates • This system was based on humoral theory • According to humoral theory, there are four humours • These are: • Blood (dam or khun) • Phlegm (balgham) • Black bile (al-mira assawda) • Yellow bile (al-mira as-safra) 8 • According to Hippocrates system, health depended on balance between these humoral elements • Any change in the balance brings about changes in body and health • Hakim is a title by which unani physicians are known in India • There are two major categories of hakim • Some come from Arabian peninsula or Persia • They were employed by Indian Govt. on contract basis • Some of them settled down in India, rest returned to their country • Muslim rulers patronised the unani medical system in India 9 • Gradually unani medicine became the main mode of treatment for the urban elite • Mughal empire established many hospitals, clinics and other medical units • Emperor Akbar (1556-1606) was the pioneer in this regard to build hospitals in many parts of Delhi and Agra • Later Aurangzeb also had set up hospitals in many provinces and smaller towns • Ayurveda somewhat lost its prominence during this time because of lack of patronage from the rulers 10 • Ayurvedic texts were translated into Arabic by the physicians like Avicenna and Razi Sempion. • Both of them quoted Indian Ayurvedic texts and established Islamic medicine "Unani System” • By the 13th,Century Unani system of medicine was firmly established mainly in Delhi, Aligarh, Lucknow and Hyderabad. • During Mughal period and subsequent years Ayurveda declined due to the lack of state support. • With the advent of the British in the 18th Century Ayurveda system was revived in India along with Western system of Medicine. 11 • Siddha • It is a traditional medical system in India • It is of Dravidian origin and its entire literature is in Tamil • Its origin is traced to Shaiva tradition • According to the tradition, Lord Shiva conveyed the knowledge of medicine to Parvati • Parvati was Lord Shiva’s wife • This knowledge was passed on to Nandi • Finally, the knowledge was given to Siddhas • Siddhi mean that achievement of objective after long penance • Those who have attained Siddhi are Siddhas https://www.infinityfoundation.com/mandala/t_es/t_es_tiwar_siddha.htm 12 • According to tradition there were 18 Siddhars • They were: • Nandi, Agasthiyar, Thirumular, Punnakkeesar, Pulasthiyar, Poonaikannar, Idaikkadar, Bogar, Pulikai isar, Karuvurar, Konkanavar, Kalangi, Sattainathar, Azhuganni, Agappai, Pumbatti, Theraiyar and Kudhambai, but the Agasthiyar (Agastya) • Among them Agasthiyar was most prominent • He was the originator of Siddha medical system and also of Tamil language • During the period of Ramayana, he settled down in South India • Origin of every tradition in South India is traced back to Agastya https://www.infinityfoundation.com/mandala/t_es/t_es_tiwar_siddha.htm 13 • The basic concepts of the Siddha medicine is the same as that of Ayurveda • Siddhars believed that a healthy soul can only be developed through a healthy body • Intense yogic practice was an important part of Siddha medicine • According to the Siddha medicine various physiological and psychological functions of the body are attributed to the combination of seven elements: • first is saram (plasma) responsible for growth, development and nourishment; • second is cheneer (blood) responsible for nourishing muscles, imparting colour and improving intellect; 14 • the third is ooun (muscle) responsible for shape of the body; • fourth is kollzuppu (fatty tissue) responsible for oil balance and lubricating joints; • fifth is enbu (bone) responsible for body structure and posture and movement; • sixth is moolai (nerve) responsible for strength; and • the last is sukila (semen) responsible for reproduction. • Siddha medicine also has similarity with Ayurveda • The physiological components of the human beings are classified as Vatha (air), Pitha (fire) and Kapha (earth and water). 15 • Western Medicine • Europeans introduced Western medicine in India • The Christian missionaries were very active in promoting the Western system • During the British colonial rule, for army’s interest, some Indians were given training in Western medicine • A Native Medical School was opened in 1822 in Kolkata • 20 students were admitted • A committee in 1833 found the condition of medical training was defective • Immediate closure of the school was recommended 16 • The committee also recommended formation of a Medical college for Indians with Western system of medical training • The medium of training recommended was English • On the recommendation of the Committee, a Government Order No.28 of 28th January 1835, Medical College of Bengal was established. • This day is still celebrated as the Foundation day of the Calcutta Medical College. • A small hospital consisting of 20 beds was established on 1st April 1838. In 1840 a large Hospital for women was founded with 100 beds to afford instruction in Midwifery H Roy. History of Medicine with Special Reference to India. Available at http://www.histopathology-india.net/history_of_medicine.htm. Accessed 10 Oct 2018 17 MEDICAL COLLEGE BENGAL : Est 1835 18 • Women in Medicine • In the year 1847 Elizabeth Blackwell from U.S.A. became the first women to graduate from Geneva Institute. • "Women’s Medical College of Philadelphia“ was founded In 1850 • In UK Elizabeth Garatte in 1865, completed the course from Middlesex Hospital • But the Board of Management did not allow her to take the examination. • She obtained the Diploma of Society of Apothecaries in 1865 and opened an out-door dispensary named "Garatte Hospital“ http://www.histopathology- 19 india.net/history_of_medicine.htm. Accessed10 Oct 2018 • In 1870, Elizabeth Garatte obtained the M.D. degree of Paris. • In 1876, Sophia Jex Black received the degree from Edinburgh University, • It had to be withdrawn due to social disturbances. • Madras Medical College trained four women doctors fully trained according to the regulations, in 1878 • In Bengal, this question was first raised in the year 1876 and • Response was favorable from Lt. Governor Richard Temple, • It was not translated into action • In 1881, it was reconsidered and the Government took a liberal view • The matter was facilitated and even a scholarship of Rupees 20 was paid to every woman student of medical college 20 • In Bengal, Mrs. Kadambini Ganguly was the first native lady graduate of the Calcutta University in 1887. • Mrs. Ganguly went to England and became a Licentiate in Medicine and Surgery. • During the year 1925 to 1931 very few lady students were admitted to the Medical College. • For lady students, it was compulsory to stay in Swarnamoyee Hostel. • Most of the Hostel students were Anglo-Indians, Christians, Brahmos, Parsis and so on. 21 • Classical • Until recently, Western historians generally ignored China • Work of some scholars, however, placed the Asian science and medicine in its proper perspective • These works have helped in redefining the place of Asian contribution in medicine • Traditional Chinese medicines and healing techniques have gained a significant place in Western world today • China has kept its traditional medicine alive in folk lores as well as in mature and respected forms 22 • Contd. • Since 1970’s, Chinese archaeologists