Sushurata: Difference between revisions
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'''Sushruta''' (also spelled '''Susruta''' or '''Sushrutha''') (c. [[6th century BC]]) was a renowned [[surgery|surgeon]] of [[ancient India]], and the author of the book ''[[Sushruta Samhita]]''. In his book, he described over 120 surgical instruments, 300 surgical procedures and classifies human surgery into 8 categories. |
'''Sushruta''' (also spelled '''Susruta''' or '''Sushrutha''') (c. [[6th century BC]]) was a renowned [[surgery|surgeon]] of [[ancient India]], and claimed to be the author of the book ''[[Sushruta Samhita]]''. In his book, it is said that he described over 120 surgical instruments, 300 surgical procedures and classifies human surgery into 8 categories. However, Richard Salomon states that the earliest confirmed specimens of India's [[Brahmic family of scripts|earliest written script]], the [[Brāhmī script]], are rock-cut inscriptions called the [[Edicts of Ashoka]] and are dated to the 3rd century BC; any excavated evidence for writing in India that may predate these Edicts (such as graffiti on pottery shards from [[Sri Lanka]] that may date to the 4th century BC) are controversial and their dating ambiguous.<ref>Salomon, Richard. (2003). "Writing Systems of the Indo-Aryan Languages," in ''The Indo-Aryan Languages'', 67–103. Edited by George Cardona and Dhanesh Jain. New York: Routledge. ISBN 0700711309.</ref> |
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He lived and taught and practiced his art on the banks of the [[Ganga]] in the area that corresponds to the present day city of [[Varanasi]] <ref>[http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V02_605.gif Susruta] [[The Imperial Gazetteer of India]], 1909, v. 2, p. 570.</ref> in North India. |
He lived and taught and practiced his art on the banks of the [[Ganga]] in the area that corresponds to the present day city of [[Varanasi]] <ref>[http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V02_605.gif Susruta] [[The Imperial Gazetteer of India]], 1909, v. 2, p. 570.</ref> in North India. |
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Revision as of 09:06, 12 September 2008
Sushruta | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 6th century BC |
| Known for | Rhinoplasty |
| Medical career | |
| Profession | Surgeon, Physician |
| Sub-specialties | Plastic Surgery, Cosmetic Surgery |
Sushruta (also spelled Susruta or Sushrutha) (c. 6th century BC) was a renowned surgeon of ancient India, and claimed to be the author of the book Sushruta Samhita. In his book, it is said that he described over 120 surgical instruments, 300 surgical procedures and classifies human surgery into 8 categories. However, Richard Salomon states that the earliest confirmed specimens of India's earliest written script, the Brāhmī script, are rock-cut inscriptions called the Edicts of Ashoka and are dated to the 3rd century BC; any excavated evidence for writing in India that may predate these Edicts (such as graffiti on pottery shards from Sri Lanka that may date to the 4th century BC) are controversial and their dating ambiguous.[1]
He lived and taught and practiced his art on the banks of the Ganga in the area that corresponds to the present day city of Varanasi [2] in North India.
In the Sushruta school, the first person to expound Āyurvedic knowledge was Dhanvantari who then taught it to Divodasa who, in turn, taught it to Sushruta, Aupadhenava, Aurabhra, Paushakalāvata, Gopurarakshita, and Bhoja.
Because of his seminal and numerous contributions to the science and art of surgery he is also known by the title "Father of Surgery." Much of what is known about this inventive surgeon is contained in a series of volumes he authored, which are collectively known as the Susrutha Samhita. The "Samhita" has some writings that date as late as the 1st century, and some scholars believe that there were contributions and additions to his teachings from generations of his students and disciples. Sushruta is also the father of Plastic Surgery and Cosmetic Surgery since his technique of forehead flap rhinoplasty (repairing the disfigured nose with a flap of skin from the forehead),that he used to reconstruct noses that were amputated, is practiced almost unchanged in technique to this day. The Susrutha Samhita contains the first known description of several operations, including the uniting of bowel, the removal of the prostate gland, the removal of cataract lenses and the draining of abscesses. Susrutha was also the first surgeon to advocate the practice of operations on inanimate objects such as watermelons, clay plots and reeds; thus predating the modern practice of the surgical workshop by half a millennium.
Sushruta was also a notable teacher. He told his pupils that one could become a good physician only if one knew both theory and practice. He advised his pupils to use carcases and models for practice before surgery.In addition to classifying worms that infect the human body, leeches for bloodletting, medicinal herbs, alkalies and metals, Sushruta gave a vague classification of animals.
References
- ^ Salomon, Richard. (2003). "Writing Systems of the Indo-Aryan Languages," in The Indo-Aryan Languages, 67–103. Edited by George Cardona and Dhanesh Jain. New York: Routledge. ISBN 0700711309.
- ^ Susruta The Imperial Gazetteer of India, 1909, v. 2, p. 570.
*Dr. Rudolf Hoernle. Medicine of India.
- D. P. Agrawal. Susruta: The Great Surgeon of Yore.
- Chari PS. 'Susruta and our heritage', Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery.
- Rana RE and Arora BS. 'History of Plastic Surgery in India', Journal of Postgraduate Medicine.
- Gunakar Muley. 'Plastic Surgery in Ancient India'.