anonymous

22nd September 2018

A PATIENT IS A LIVING TEXT BOOK ! - 14

 A PATIENT IS A LIVING TEXT BOOK ! - 14

Bhau was my distant uncle. He developed deep, severe jaundice at the age of seventy six. He was admitted in Sassoon Hospital at Pune and was investigated. The attending doctors diagnosed it as a case of obstructive jaundice, due to cancer of the head of the pancreas and opined that the case was too advanced and inoperable. Bhau was brought home and was being treated symptomatically. I had seen all the reports, had them shown to specialists in Bombay and they all concurred with the opinion given in Pune.

About this time, someone suggested there is a shepherd by name Sonaba who lived at Fort Purandar near Pune and was known to prescribe herbal medicines. He had apparently learnt the art from some British doctor during the British regime. Sonaba had been his assistant. He would examine one's palm, ask a few questions and summon him the next day or medicines. In Bhau's case, the relatives decided to take treatment from Sonaba. I was sceptical but could not oppose. Bhau was too sick to be taken to Sonaba, so his hand prints were taken. Sonaba examined them and gave some medicines. In a few days, Bhau started improving. His jaundice cleared up completely and he was healthy and active again for nine more years!

I have never met Sonaba but I am told that he is very famous in and around Pune. Many people reportedly consult him and get cured. I have many questions in this regard but have no satisfactory answers. Was the diagnosis of cancer wrong in Bhau's case to begin with? Did he have spontaneous remission? Is it a case of mystical healing? Is it faith healing? Have herbal medicines potentialities that we still are not aware of? All healing is scientific even though we are not able to explain its mechanism today.

Compilation of professional reminiscences of specialists - edited by M.V.Kamath and Dr.Rekha Karmarkar.