Eyecare, a Tradition

Via Newindpress.com

TN can boast of Ophthalmic surgery traditions

CHENNAI: Medical case sheets of ophthalmic disorders, dysfunctions along with the treatment and results dating back to nearly two centuries have been dug out from the Saraswathi Mahal library in Thanjavur by a team of doctors from Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai.

Following an invitation from the prince, S. Babaji Rajah Bhonsle, a team of ophthalmologists from the hospital, including chairman Dr. S. S. Badrinath and head of the department of Pathology Dr. J. Biswas, camped in the district for more than three days this March to trace the roots of Ophthalmic medicine.

The team discovered that doctors in the state's cultural citadel, under the rule of Rajah Sarfoji II between 1798 and 1832, took special care to treat eye ailments.

''Our experience was truly humbling. We were surprised to note that they had meticulously recorded minute details of treatments along with the results. More than anything else, it was an inspiration,'' Dr. Biswas said. He presented the team's findings at an ophthalmic conference held in the city.

The case sheets and the findings of the team, he promised, would be published in reputed medical journals soon.

Prince Babaji Rajah Bhonsle, who had invited the doctors, was all smiles. ''I found these documents in our library. As I am an engineer, I could not figure out what they meant. Fearing that something precious could be lost in the recesses here, I invited the doctors for research. The discoveries are indeed heartening,'' he said.

The doctors, along with archaeologists and librarians, traced forty-four case sheets with 18 drawings of the eyes. While atleast half a dozen were written in Modi script, the remaining were in English. The ophthalmic terminology including lid, conjuctiva, cornea, lens, capsule of lens, posterior chamber were found in the case sheets.

Presenting samples of case sheets, Dr. Biswas said the doctors had diagnosed cases of ophthalmic purulentis, lentricular cataract, capsulolenticular cataract and leucoma. The patients were treated in Dhanvanthri Mahal, a multi-speciality hospital established by Rajah Sarfoji.

It also served as a research institute that produced herbal medicine for humans and animals.

The name of Dr. McBean, an English ophthalmologist along with Dr. Amrithalingam Pillai, figured in most case sheets. ''We went round the town but could not find the hospital anywhere. But some people guess that it would have been demolished subsequently. We were also told that there were herbal gardens that provided raw materials for preparation of various medicines. A pharmaceutical godown, Aoushadha Kottadi, was maintained to preserve drugs,'' said Dr. Biswas.

The doctors at Dhanvanthri Mahal practised Siddha, Ayurveda, Unani and even Allopathic medicines.

Comments

[Dr.B.G.Gokulan]

Respected Dr.Badrinathji
Indeed the news on Traditional eye care in India in 17th Century was heartening .Its high time to think seriousely and unbiased steps to promote a combined effort to propagate the best practices in Ayurveda as well as Modern medicine for the benefit of the diseased.A primary clinical trial on selected eye diseases in Ayurveda would be mostly appreciated to start with, thus gaining confidence of Modern ophthalmologists to work hand in hand.The modern training I received(which was unique I believe)from Sankara Netralaya way back in 1991 helped me a lot to understand the subject in deep and helped in identifying cases to be treated with full/part/no success in my Ayurvedic practice.A team work in this sector of medicine is most welcome.