{"id":3922,"date":"2023-11-07T10:53:30","date_gmt":"2023-11-07T05:08:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/medicosnext.com\/?p=3922"},"modified":"2023-11-29T10:41:53","modified_gmt":"2023-11-29T04:56:53","slug":"unknown-heroes-of-medicine-in-nepal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/medicosnext.com\/?p=3922","title":{"rendered":"Unknown Heroes of Medicine in Nepal"},"content":{"rendered":"

Words by Dr. Hemang Dixit<\/b><\/p>\n

“Jung Bahadur, the visionary leader, may be unofficially proclaimed as Nepal’s first surgeon, introducing minor surgeries and procuring surgical instruments during his historic visit to the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Dr. H. A. Oldfield, the British Residency doctor, reveals Jung Bahadur’s fascination with Ayurvedic medicine and his personal laboratory, where he concocted a mysterious medicinal brew containing precious metals, diamonds, and pearls.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Jung Bahadur’s significant contributions to medicine include not only his visits to medical institutions but also his excision of a small fatty tumor, showcasing his hands-on involvement in surgical procedures despite lacking formal medical training.”<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Introduction<\/b><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ironically the first two heroes of medicine in Nepal were non-medical personages!\u00a0 If I had to think of heroes in the medical field in Nepal the first two names that come to my mind are of non medical personnel.\u00a0 The first is Amshuverma, with the title of Pashupati Bhattarak.\u00a0 During his period of rule of the country i.e. 605 \u2013 626 C.E. he is credited with having started Ayurvedic Arogyashalas or health facilities for the people of Nepal.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/b>The second person worthy of this title is Jung Bahadur and he may perhaps be also unofficially proclaimed as the first surgeon of the country!\u00a0 This statement may not be labeled as outlandish in view of the fact that the performers of surgeries in the United Kingdom (UK), some centuries back were none other as those referred to as \u2018barber surgeons\u2019, who carried on this trade.\u00a0 It is for this historical reason that present day surgeons in the UK, though medical doctors who after years of study and training practice surgery are however presently referred to in their own country as \u2018Mr\u2019 rather than \u2018Dr\u2019.\u00a0 It is in this light that I take up the tale of Jung Bahadur.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jung Bahadur<\/b><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

The early life of Jung Bahadur, son of Bal Narsing Kunwar was very difficult.\u00a0 He spent his early years at his <\/span>Mama\u2019s <\/span><\/i>house grazing sheep and goats.\u00a0 Later, he even took to catching elephants in the Terai.\u00a0 He was an avid gambler.\u00a0 Jung had been told, \u201cIf you want to earn a good name, you must let go of greed and adopt compassion.\u00a0 If it will please the masses; don\u2019t hesitate to kill even your own son.\u00a0 Forget about jealousy and anger, forget about wealth, and make moves that please the largest section the population.\u00a0 Make your countrymen, as well as foreigners, believe that you mete out justice fairly, and that you see everyone as family.\u00a0 If you have to lie in the course of politics, do it by deluding the masses so that they remain happy.\u00a0 It will then be easy to remain Prime Minister.\u00a0 Otherwise, there will be trouble.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was following the Treaty of Sugauli in 1816 C.E. that the British set up their embassy at Lainchaur.\u00a0 The story goes that they had been offered this site, what was then swamp land by the Nepalis for their Residency in the hope that they would all be victims of the dreaded <\/span>awal<\/span><\/i> or malaria and all would soon die.\u00a0 This however did not occur as the crafty British first drained the swamp to get rid of the mosquitoes before they built their residences on the given plot of land.\u00a0 Thus they were not much bitten by mosquitoes to become victims of <\/span>awal.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0 They even built a hospital and had regular postings of doctors there.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Early Medical History of Nepal<\/b><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

This small hospital in the residency compound had a British doctor as a member of the Legation to look after the health of the members therein.\u00a0 The doctors who served in this capacity have also written books about the health conditions then prevailing in Nepal and their experiences.\u00a0 Dr. Oldfield was the medical person there during the time of Jung Bahadur\u2019s premiership of Nepal.\u00a0 These accounts were kept for all to see at the India Office Library then in Aldwych in London, but now in the British Library.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Dr. H. A. Oldfield was a surgeon in the Bengal Army and was transferred to Nepal in 1850 and stayed here till 1863 as the British Residency doctor.\u00a0 Oldfield was also family physician to Jung Bahadur and made weekly visits to Jung\u2019s Durbar at Thapathali. \u00a0 However, Jung Bahadur also believed much in Ayurvedic medicine and had the Vaidhyakhana, set up during Malla times at Hanuman Dhoka transferred to Thapathali.\u00a0 After becoming PM of Nepal, Jung Bahadur was invited to England in 1850 and then he went to Scotland where he visited the Royal College of Surgeons at Edinburgh.\u00a0 He probably bought some surgical instruments when he was there and brought it to Nepal.\u00a0 Oldfield in his accounts says, \u201cI have found it exceedingly convenient to be able to borrow some of his instruments when our hospital was deficient in them.\u201d\u00a0 Oldfield has recorded the excision of a small fatty tumour by Jung Bahadur.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jung Bahadur apparently dispensed medicine too, for Oldfield writes, \u201cHe has a sort of laboratory in his garden where he prepares constantly a large quantity of a particular sorts of medicine in which he has great faith.\u00a0 Its composition is a profound secret; he says it contains the precious metals, even diamonds and pearls.\u00a0 He considers it very valuable, and, I suspect derives a profitable trade by selling it in small quantities to his brethren and family and others when sick.\u00a0 As a compliment to him, and to please him, they will willingly take it, and pay well for it too, whatever faith they may have in its efficacy.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Another British writer Landon confirms this about Jung Bahadur when he states, \u201cHe had an inveterate liking for medical treatment.\u00a0 The medicines he used were Nepalese, not European, but he occasionally called the professional services of Dr. Wright.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In the annals of Nepal’s medical history, the heroes emerge from unexpected quarters. Amshuverma, a ruler, sowed the seeds of Ayurvedic health facilities, and Jung Bahadur, not a medical professional, but a visionary leader, played a pivotal role in shaping medical practices in Nepal. One recalls that some decades ago that Their Majesties Late King Birendra & Queen Aishwarya were conferred the honorary degrees of FRCS of The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. Jung Bahadur\u2019s foray into minor surgery, visits to prestigious medical institutions, and the establishment of a medicinal laboratory in his garden underscore his significant, albeit unconventional, contributions to medicine. Jung Bahadur should thus be accepted as one of the medical heroes of Nepal. The Society of Surgeons of Nepal might consider posthumously honoring Jung Bahadur with an honorary membership, recognizing his unique role in the evolution of medical practices in the country.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Words by Dr. Hemang Dixit “Jung Bahadur, the visionary leader, may be unofficially proclaimed as Nepal’s first surgeon, introducing minor surgeries and procuring surgical instruments during his historic visit to the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh.” “Dr. H. A. Oldfield, the British Residency doctor, reveals Jung Bahadur’s fascination with Ayurvedic medicine and his personal …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":110,"featured_media":3923,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[39,107],"tags":[1666,2099],"class_list":["post-3922","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-feature","category-flash-news","tag-dr-hemang-dixit","tag-issue-40"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/medicosnext.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Jung-Bahadur-Rana.webp?fit=1280%2C960&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/medicosnext.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3922","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/medicosnext.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/medicosnext.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medicosnext.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/110"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medicosnext.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3922"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/medicosnext.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3922\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3924,"href":"https:\/\/medicosnext.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3922\/revisions\/3924"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medicosnext.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3923"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/medicosnext.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3922"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medicosnext.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3922"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medicosnext.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3922"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}