Another extremely important idea on reading came from Sir William Osler, legendary Professor of medicine at four universities - the Johns Hopkins University, University of Pennsylvania, McGill University and the Oxford University. His suggestion was about how to read medical literature. He said: “ whenever you want to learn about a disease, go to the most original paper on that subject and then read the latest review”.
That
advice led me to read the Edwin Smith Surgical papyrus which describes medical
knowledge in the ancient Egypt. There I found a great description of tetanus, although they
did not know at that time in history what it was. I also found a description of a charioteer who fell,
hit his head on one side and lost use of his limbs on the opposite side. At
that time in history, they did not know that the right half of the brain
controls movements of the left side of the body and vice versa. There was also
a description of how to reduce dislocation of the clavicle.
I have read and have a copy of the translation of Kashyapa Samhita. Kashyapa was a student of Athreya at the ancient university of Takshashila and probably practiced pediatrics in ancient India. I have read the original description of mumps by Hippocrates. During my visit to Padua, Italy a friend of mine arranged for me to see at the University library the original print of the first book ever published on Human Anatomy by Vesalius.
I
also read passages from Morgagni’s original descriptions of organ pathology. Morgagni
showed that clinical symptoms during life correlate with diseases of specific
organs. For example, there is one description of a young boy with acute
glomerulonephritis in this book. The clinical description of the boy during his
illness includes swelling of the face and feet. The pathology findings in the
kidney of this boy were those of acute glomerulonephritis. That book was the
beginning of clinical medicine as we practice today, because Morgagni
established that specific signs and symptoms exhibited by patients correlate
with disease of specific organs.
By
reading the original description we will understand what was it that the
original observer saw which was different from what was known at that time. This
also makes us humble, for we “stand on the shoulders of giants”.
By
reading the latest review, we will learn how that original observation led to
other observations and developments resulting in the current knowledge about
that topic and also what questions have not been answered. To get the full
benefit from reading the latest review, we have to read some of the crucial
references cited in the review article or book. We need to make sure the
studies were well-conducted, proper statistical methods were used and the
conclusions are valid, given the methods used in the study.
Most
of the original classics are in ancient languages such as Sanskrit, Latin, or
Aramaic. This can be used as an opportunity to learn that language. This is a
bonus with rich dividends and reading pleasure. It also gives an idea of how
languages have evolved over the years. I am finding this pleasure of reading
classic books in my own mother tongue. Those books use Tamizh language as used
more than 1,000 years back. Using dictionaries and other sources one can understand the meaning of these words.
Fortunately,
most of the classic texts are available in English translation. I found it
helpful to start with one of those translations even for books in Tamizh and
Sanskrit because of ease of searching with the Index list. Searching with the
Index list in English is easier still in the electronic versions of very long texts and
passages. Once I locate the passage or verse I am interested in, I go to the text in its original language and read it for myself, if it is in English, Sanskrit or Tamizh.
In
this process, you need to find a translation which is true to the meaning of
the words as used originally, not interpretive translations. A case in point is
English translation of Maha Bharata. By reading reviews of several
translations, I found that Prof.Ganguli’s was the most authentic for
verse-by-verse translation.
As
mentioned earlier, I like to read a translation which gives exact references.
For example, if I want to find passages in Rg Veda, I use The Artful Universe
by William Mahoney. To read passages from Satapata Brahmana I read Roberto
Calasso’s Ardor. To know more about Indian History, I read A L Bhasham’s The
Wonder That was India. By using references in these books, I was able to get
back to the exact passages in many Sanskrit and Tamizh originals. That is how I found out about Rishi Dirghatamas and Asya Vamasya Sukta.
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