FATHER OF SURGERY

Sushruta was the famous surgeon of Kashi, popularly known as Benares and used to teach and practice medicine around 600 BC.The historic contribution of Sushruta, the ancient surgeon of India, is well recognised for his innovative method of rhinoplasty,1 extracapsular lens extraction in cataract,2 anal and dental surgeries. However, little is known regarding his vivid description of diabetes (madhumeha),angina (hritshoola) and obesity (medoroga).He was a disciple of Dhanwantari, who is recognised as the Lord diety of Ayurveda (science of life) the Indian system of medicine.To Sushrutha, belongs the honor of being called “the FATHER OF SURGERY” and the ‘PATRON OF A SURGEON IN TRAINING’, as he was the first before all to emphasize on practical training in experimental and clinical surgery.

 

The Sushruta Samhita is one of two early texts that form the cornerstone of the Indian medical tradition of Ayurveda (Ayurveda means science of life). The other treatise is called the Charaka Samhita. Samhita is Sanskrit for compendium, and Sushruta and Charaka are proper names. So thetitles translate as "Sushruta's Compendium" and "Charaka's Compendium." Likethe Charaka Samhita, the Sushruta Samhita made revisions and alterations to an earlier text on which it is based, in this case, the writingsof Divodasa Dhanvantari, the author's teacher. The author, Sushruta, is identified as the son of the Vedic sage Visvamitra. The text is long, running over 1,700 pages in English translation. The exact date of its composition is unknown, but is generally thought to be around 100 A.D.

Sushruta details about 650 drugs of animal, plant, and mineral origin.In addition, it describes more than 300 kinds of operations that call for 42different surgical processes and 125 different types of instruments. Other chapters in Sushruta make clear the high value put on the well-being ofchildren, and on that of expectant mothers. Sushruta's coverage of toxicology (the study of poisons) is more extensive than that in Charaka, and goes into great detail regarding symptoms, first-aid measures, and long-term treatment, as well as classification of poisons and methods of poisoning.

The tools(125) mentioned in the book are :

 

• Forceps 20 types
• Specula
• Scalpels
• Scissors
• Saws
• Cauteries
• Syringes
• Needles
• Trocars
• Catheters