He lived in the 100 BC in what is today known as Madhya Pradesh. He was a chemist, an alchemist, metellurgist and medicineman. His works are Rasaratnakara, Rashrudaya, Rasendramangal, Arogyamanjari, Kakshaputatantra, Yogasara, Yogasatak, Uttaratantra. Mohammed of Ghazni invaded India and is said to have destroyed some and taken some of the sciences manuscripts to the outside world. The Arabs learnt the transmutation of base metals to gold from Nagarjuna. They called it Al Kimia. Medieval Europeans learnt about it from the Arabs and called it Alchemy.
Contribution
An alchemist he knew the art of transmuting base metals to look like gold. This method is today being used to make imitation jewellery
Preparation of mercury
Extraction of metals like gold, silver, tin and copper from the ore
Dissolution of diamonds, metals and pearls
Process of distillation, liquefication, sublimation and roasting
Combinations of liquids
Preparation of medicinal drugs
August 21, 2008. Tags: Alchemist, Arogyamanjari, Chemist, Copper, diamonds, distillation, Gold, Kakshaputatantra, liquification, Madhya Pradesh, Medicine, Mercury, metals, Metellurgist, Nagarjuna, pearls, Rasaratnakara, Rasendramangal, Rashrudaya, roasting, Silver, sublimation, Tin, Uttaratantra, Yogasara, Yogasatak. Alchemist, Chemist, Medical Field, Metellurgist. .
He was a physician. He lived in the 8th century. His work is the Nidana.
Contributions
Ayurvedic innoculation for smallpox. Treatment was done by inoculation with year-old smallpox matter. The inoculators would travel all across India pricking the skin of the arm with a small metal instrument using “variolous matter” taken from pustules produced by the previous year’s inoculations. The effectiveness of this system was confirmed by the British doctor Howell based on his residence in Bengal.
Classification of diseases, causes, symptoms and complications
Chapter on Masurika (Small Pox)
August 18, 2008. Tags: Ayurveda, Bengal, Doctor, Howell, Innoculation, Madava, Masurika, Medicine, Nidana, physician, Sanskrit, Smallpox, Veda. Medical Field. .
He was a renowned surgeon of the 6th Century BC of Varanasi. He is known as the Father of Surgery. He wrote the Sushruta Samhita. He believed that the Ayurvedic knowledge came from Dhanvantri who taught it to Divodasha who in turn taught it to Sushruta
Contributions
Described 120 surgical instruments
Described 300 surgical procedures
Father of Surgery
Father of Plastic Surgery and Cosmetic Surgery
Rhinoplasty (this is still followed)
Removal of Prostate Gland
Removal of Cataract
Draining of abscesses
Classified worms that infect human body
Used Leeches for bloodletting
Classified medicinal herbs
Classified alkalies
Classified Metals
Instructions for Venesections
Pioneer of Anaesthesia
Benefits of walking
August 16, 2008. Tags: Abscesses, Anasthesia, Ayurveda, Bloodletting, Cataract, Cosmetic Surgery, Dhanvantri, Divodasha, Father of Surgery, Leeches, Medicine, Plastic Surgery, Prostate Gland, Rhinoplasty, Sanskrit, Surgical Instruments, Surgical Procedures, Sushruta, Sushruta Samhita, Varanasi, Venesection, Walking. Medical Field. .
Born in a Brahmin family, he was the principal contributors to the ancient system of Ayurveda. His works are the Charaka Samhita. Charaka Samhita is a revision of Agnivesha Tantra which was based on the teachings of Punarvasu Atreya. This was translated in Arabic in the 8th century. He quotes on physiology, etiology, genetics & embryology.
Famous remarks
- A physician who fails to enter the body of a patient with the lamp of knowledge and understanding can never treat diseases
- He should first study all the factors, including environment, which influence a patient’s disease, and then prescribe treatment
- It is more important to prevent the occurrence of disease than to seek a cure
Contributions
Concept of Digestion
Concept of Metabolism
Concept of Immunity
Attributed sex of a child and defects in the newborn to the ovum and sperm
Anatomy – 360 Bones
Rational approach to the causation and cure of disease.
Objective methods of clinical examination
Describes atleast 600 drugs
August 16, 2008. Tags: Agnivesha Tantra, Anatomy, Arabic, Atreya, Ayurveda, Causation, Charaka, Charaka Samhita, Clinical Examination, Digestion, embryology, etiology, genetics, Immunity, Medicine, Metabolism, Ovum, physiology, Punarvasu, Sanskrit, Sex, Sperm, Vedas. Medical Field. .
