Atharva Vedic Views on Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is a disease of great antiquity. In Ayurveda it is described as the king of the diseases because its arrival is marked by a set of symptoms earlier, followed by the disease proper and then with a list of accompanying complication. The story regarding its origin symbolically indicates the importance of the bodily resistance mechanism in its control. The clinical picture of the disease is also depicted clearly in the Samhitas. An account of tuberculosis have also been noted in the woks of Greek and Roman physicians. Its existence in ancient Egypt seems also well established by paleopathologic studies which have been made of human mummies. These studies have revealed numerous instances of skeletal disease, characteristic of tuberculosis, particularly of the vertebral column. The existence of pulmonary tuberculosis formerly designated as the 'Consumption', in the Middle ages and in Modern History is well documented. The pathologic unity of consumption with tubercle formation, from which is derived the modern name of the disease was established by Laennec early in the 19 th Century. The communicability of the disease from man to rabbit was demonstrated by villemin in 1865. The etiology was finally demonstrated by robbery Koch's discovery of the tubercle bacillus in 1882. The communicable nature of the disease was also mentioned by Susruta in his treatise. The second Canto, Sixth Anuvak, Suktas thirty three in 'Atharva Veda' gives certain important observations. The Sukta thirty two narrates various forms of Krimis (Microbes), certain processes for their destruction, their toxic nature etc. the next Sukta enunciates clearly the various organs and tissue affected by the 'Yaksma' (Tuberculosis). are the parts described mainly as the affecting organs by the disease. Those descriptions give us an idea of the knowledge existed on that subject at the time of Atharva Veda. Besides this, some special commonly used drugs like 'Pippali' (Piper longum), 'Prisniparni', 'Sahadevi' etc., can also be seen in the Atharva Veda. Curious description of Uro‐genital Anatomy, various palsies, certain hereditary diseases etc., are also be worth studying. A detailed study of the Arharva Veda with the aid of commentaries of Sayana, Prof. Griffith and Whitnery will unveil more interesting sum and substance beneficial to the medical world. ‐ EDITOR