Forgotten Dentistry...

Densistry is to most of us, a modern science abounding with technological advances, and born to the hilt by cutting edge materials and equipment. I did a little read up, trying to understand how in ancient times people went about caring and getting treatments for their tooth issues. Were there dentists then too? Were there preventive and interceptive methods of dental treatment, other than extraction? These are some of the questions I will try answering today.
Starting with extractions, the removal of teeth has been carried out by the eldest male in the family. In some communities where teeth were considered holy or symbolic, the village witch doctor, or medicine man did the extractions. Pain was not much of an issue then, because people weren't aware that means to allieviate it, existed. But in ancient Sumer & Phoenecia, the sap of some plants were used as a topical anesthetic just before extraction. Very often infected root apices were left behind, leading to jaw-wrenching infections.
Coming to fillings, yes.. Do not be surprized! Fillings have been done in humans for about 9000 years now. Primitive dentists drilled nearly perfect holes into live but undoubtedly unhappy patients between 5500 B.C. and 7000 B.C., an article in Thursday’s issue of the journal Nature reports. Researchers carbon-dated at least nine skulls with 11 drill holes found in a Pakistan graveyard.
That means dentistry is at least 4,000 years older than first thought — and far older than the useful invention of anesthesia.This was no mere tooth tinkering. The drilled teeth found in the graveyard were hard-to-reach molars. And in at least one instance, the ancient dentist managed to drill a hole in the inside back end of a tooth, boring out toward the front of the mouth.The holes went as deep as one-seventh of an inch (3.5 millimeters)..
“The holes were so perfect, so nice,” said study co-author David Frayer, an anthropology professor at the University of Kansas.How it was done is painful just to think about. Researchers figured that a small bow was used to drive the flint drill tips into patients’ teeth. Flint drill heads were found on site. So study lead author Roberto Macchiarelli, an anthropology professor at the University of Poitiers, France, and colleagues simulated the technique and drilled through human (but no longer attached) teeth in less than a minute.Researchers were impressed by how advanced the society was in Pakistan’s Baluchistan province. And let me tell you, friends.. in ancient times this was all part of India. In fact Mehgarh where the fossils were unearthed is close to the border between the two countries that were partitioned post-Independence. So we as Indians, can be proud of our early foray into specialized dentistry in a time when medicine was just being understood. The drilling occurred on ordinary men and women.
Dentistry, probably evolved from intricate ornamental bead drilling that was also done by the society there, went on for about 1,500 years until about 5500 B.C., Macchiarelli said. After that, there were no signs of drilling.
The practice of dentistry in ancient Egypt, was limited to the royal court. The rest of the people, the common people, had to rely on their "swnw" known as the doctor of the people for their dentistry needs. The first reference to dentist was given to a physician and scribe Hesy-Re in 2650 BC.
The main role of the dentists was that of research and they kept their observations documented with great accuracy. Dentists today mainly focus on treatment, relying on the patients to take care of the prevention portion. The treatments of ancient Egypt were based on a hit or miss system with hopes of preventing the ailments; curing was not their specialty. If one course of action didn't work then they would try another one until they came up with a remedy. However, if the remedies did not work then they would call upon their magic to destroy "the enemy which is in the tooth".
The dentist's magic came from their god Ptah. Ptah was the creator and his mouth was used to bring forth life therefore the teeth within his life-giving mouth was magical in association. Also the dentists (correctly) believed that the teeth was important for correct pronouncement of words.
The Ebers Medical Papyrus shows 10 remedies for "keeping a tooth in good condition". One of the remedies sounds a lot like how we take care of a cavity. The recipe for a filling "Resin of terebinth: 1; Numbian Clay: 1; green eye lotion: crush together and (or apply) to the tooth". This next one might be a long lost recipe for Listerine. It is a recipe to take on halitosis or bad breath: "Breath sweetener: Take frankincense, myrrh, cinnamon, bark and other fragrant plants, boil with honey and shape into pellets".
Eventhough ancient Egypt's dentists didn't focus on the cure of the ailments, without their exstensive notes our dentistry field of today would not be as educated as they are today. It is amazing that Egypt has a family tree of great medical skills as well as mathematical and engineering skills. It would not be a surprise if the ancient Egyptians invented the first painkillers used in the medical field, finding natural agents to numb the hyper nerves in the mouths of the pharaohs.
A vigorous development in the art of dentistry does not, however, seem to have come until the rise of the Etruscan civilization in Italy.8 The Etruscans were industrious, intelligent and artistic to the highest degree, fond of luxury in all its manifestations and took great care of their persons. At the same time they were a courageous people, skilled in arts and commerce and splendid navigators. In their long sea voyages they often visited Egypt, Phoenicia and Greece trading especially in the more flourishing cities, Memphis in Egypt, Tyre and Sidon in Phoenicia.
Thanks to this close and continuous intercourse, the Etruscans probably learned early what the Egyptians, Phoenicians, and Greeks could teach in the way of dentistry and developed the art. The numerous specimens of Etruscan dental art now in Italian and other museums allow us to observe the high standard of Etruscan dentistry in the 7th and 6th centuries B.C.
Traditions have it that Greek dentistry had its origin with Asklepios (Aesculapius) whose two sons, both physicians, took special part in the siege of Troy. All the physicians and dentists from that time up to and including Hippocrates (born 460 B.C.) were members of the sacerdotal caste of Asklepiadi. But examinations of their various writings do not reveal any record of mechanical dental appliances for lost or weakened teeth or instructions for their manufacture. Volumes of medical and dental advice were written during this time, but interference consisted mostly of simple medical prescriptions similar to those recorded in Egypt. Extraction was resorted to only when the teeth were extremely loose. The Greeks prided themselves in their ability to withstand pain, so possibly did not consider a toothache a thing painful enough to warrant elimination of an organ as necessary to appearance as a tooth. This, together with their physical fitness due to their great love of athletics and athletic games, may explain the very few examples of restorative dentistry among the well preserved archaeological remains of ancient Greece.
I dont want to talk about Dentistry in the Known World, because there is so much to talk about. I will reserve it for later.
Thus we are upholding in our practise today a forgotten art, that in it's days was cutting edge too. Thousands of years later, we still follow the same basic principles, and treatment modalities. All hail these pioneers of dentistry.. :-)

What's in a Watch?

Since the early 18th century, watches have decored a gentleman's accentuation and been showing the rate at which life flew past. For years watches remained a luxury, for some an issue of prestige. In the decades that followed watches continued to become more handy, slippable into pockets and the mechanical movement that powered them more and more accurate.
It was only post WW 2 that we began wearing watches on our wrist. In fact, it was the Allied military that introduced these watches to be worn on the wrists in order to help keep those in the army managing their time and missions accurately and maintaining overall organization. After the War most of these men continued wearing them, instead of the carrying them, and this fad grew so intense that watch manufacturers realized the growing demand for them, and started manufacturing them in larger numbers. Of course women's watches soon followed suit and in modern day society, we have endless options for watches that do everything from telling time to providing GPS coordinates. Obviously watches have met with great progression over the years and manufacturers have continued to supply men's watches that aim to suit the needs of the modern man. For many guys, men's watches serve as the only piece of jewelry they are willing to wear aside from their wedding rings. This probably explains why there is such a wide variety of men's watches available today. If it's the only piece of jewelry a man will wear, he might as well have a few men's watches to choose from. That way, men are able to wear watches that match not only who they are and how they live, but what they want to wear as well.
So what are the things we need to know before buying a watch?
Know What Makes Them Tick
Quartz: The most common and accurate movement for a watch. Quartz watches are also generally less expensive than other types of movement.
Automatic: Wrist movement powers up the mainspring in an automatic watch. You must wear it consistently, though, or after a few days it will wind down and stop running. However, watchwinders are great for keeping automatics in constant motion. Winders will also prevent you from having to reset the date everytime you want to wear your automatic.
Mechanical: Winding the crown sets gears and springs into motion. This old-school technology doesn't keep time as accurately as quartz movements, but that shouldn't bother you if you're a true collector.
What do "chronometer" and "chronograph" mean?
Chronometer is a designation given to a watch that has the highest standard of precision. The designation is given to automatic and mechanical movement watches, not those that run with quartz movement. A watch carrying the chronometer certification has passed vigorous tests demanded by the Swiss Official Chronometer Control (COSC).
A chronometer's mechanical movement is close to perfection, so the time it displays is almost always accurate (unlike other self-winding or automatic watches), and therefore carries a premium price over non-chronometer watches. The 15 days of rigorous tests conducted by the COSC include testing its performance under different temperatures, different positions, and even under water.
A chronograph designation is often confused with a chronometer one, though they are completely different. A chronograph is basically a watch with stopwatch capabilities. It displays different counters or mechanisms for measuring elapsed time. Counters can register seconds, minutes and hours. This gives its owner the ability to time anything he wants.
The classic definition of a "good" watch generally refers to a watch with mechanical movement. Most mechanical watches use an intricate system of gears and springs that rely on mechanical energy to operate. Because of their craftsmanship, these watches are given higher regard because they capture the fine art of watch-making. They command a higher premium as a result.

But mechanical watches, by their very nature, are often inaccurate (when there is no movement, such as your arm swinging, mechanical watches stop and require winding). In fact, a quartz watch (a simpler and less expensive movement, which uses a battery that sends electric currents to a small quartz crystal to ensure timing accuracy) is much more accurate than a mechanical watch, but is sold at a lower cost.

Quartz watches are cheaper because they are not perceived as "sophisticated" by connoisseurs. But who cares? At least they are reliable and accurate. If you are set on mechanical movement, know that most popular mechanical watches that are manufactured nowadays use automatic movement, which means they wind themselves thanks to the movement of the wearer.

Without getting too technical, I recommend you check out the offerings of Swiss watchmakers for a "good" watch. They are made with the highest standards in the world. With the consolidation that is occurring in the industry, most well-known brands are owned by a small group of companies. This means you can get the same level of craftsmanship of a higher priced watch by buying its lower priced cousin in the company product line.

For example, if you can't afford a Movado, you can buy its less expensive counterpart by Esquire (it is made by the same company, but since Movado is the more prestigious brand, it carries a premium price). In fact, I would say that an INR 12,000 Esquire offers the quality of a watch priced at INR 50K or more. Similarly, you can purchase a Tissot (a trademark of the Swatch Group) at a much lower price than an Omega (also a Swatch Group brand) without compromising much quality.
Scratch-Proof?
The cover of a watch's face, known as the crystal, is designed to protect the dial. There are three main types of crystal found in watches: acrylic, mineral and sapphire.
Acrylic crystal is an inexpensive plastic that does not prevent scratches, but allows scratches to be buffed out.
Mineral crystal is glass, which is composed of several elements that aid in resisting scratches (it is seven times harder than acrylic crystal). It is generally found on more expensive watches.
Sapphire crystal is the cover of choice for premium watches. It is the most expensive type of crystal and is three times harder than mineral crystal. It is made of an extremely durable synthetic material that makes it shatterproof and scratch resistant (not scratchproof). Some have a non-reflective film to prevent glare.

What is the legal definition of a Swiss watch?
Like Champagne, Bordeaux or Port, certain products have stringent standards (based on location or quality) that must be met before carrying a particular designation. The Swiss have several organizations to ensure the integrity and reputation of Swiss watchmakers. The accepted standard for what constitutes a Swiss-made watch is a Swiss movement, set into its case in Switzerland, by a manufacturer of Swiss origin.

A Swiss movement is defined as a movement that was assembled in Switzerland (by a Swiss-based manufacturer), and whose Swiss movement parts constitute 50% or more of a movement's total value. Movements that meet this requirement will carry a stamp (on the watch's face or back of the case) with the words "Swiss," "Swiss Made," "Swiss Quartz," "Suisse," "Produit Suisse" or "Fabrique en Suisse." The former three are the most popular in North America.

If your watch says "Swiss Movement," it means that the inside parts of the watch are Swiss, but that the case is not, therefore it cannot carry the other stamps. If the case is Swiss, but the movement is not, it will say "Swiss Case."

Some other tidbits: If your watch has a "T" on its face, it means it has tritium , the greenish-white substance on the hands and numbers that glows in the dark. If the face has the letter "O," it means that the hourly markings on the dial are made of gold.
This post has been assembled from websites, and not entirely by penned by me. Now that you are equipped with so much knowledge, have fun selecting and using the watch that you love to wear!

My Own Coimbatore

Coimbatore is now overtaking Madurai as the second largest city in Tamilnadu, with a population of more than 23 lakhs. There are more than 30,000 tiny small, medium and large industries and textile mills. The city is known for its entrepreneurship of its residents. The Climate is comfortable round the year. The city is situated on the banks of the river Noyyal.

Coimbatore existed even prior to the 2nd Century AD as a small tribal village capital called Kongunad until it was brought under Chola control in the 2nd or 3rd Century AD by Karikalan, the first of the early Cholas.Originally Coimbatore district formed part of the Kongu country, the history of which dates back to the Sangam age. It is found that in early days the area was inhabited by the tribes, the most predominant among them being the Kosars who are reported to have had their headquaeters at Kosampathur which probably later became the present Coimbatore.

However, tribal predominance did not last long as they were over-run by the Rashtra Kutas. From Rastrakutas the Region fell in to the hands of the cholas who were in prominence at the time of Raja Raja Chola. On the decline of Cholas the Kongun territory was occupied by the Chalukyas and then by the Pandyas and the cysalas.

Due to internal strife in the Pandyas Kingdom the Muslim rulers from Delhi happened to interfere. Thus the area fell into the hands of Madurai Sultanate from whom the Vijayanagar rulers wrestled for the region during 1377-78 after overthrowing the Madurai Nayaks.During the period of Muthu Veerappa Nayak and later during the period of Tirumal Nayak internal strife and intermittent wars ruined the kingdom.

As a consequence during the period of Tirumal Nayak,the Kongu region fell into the hands of the Mysore rulers from whom hyder Ali took over the area. However, consequents on the fall of Tippu Sultan of Mysore in 1799, the Kongu region came to be ceded to the East India Company by the Maharaja of mysore who was restored to power by the East India Company after defeating Tippu Sultan. From then till 1947 when India attained Independence, the region remained under British control who initiated systematic revenue administration.

In 1840, the areas were merged into one and brought under one District Collector. During the time, Mr.H.S. GREAME, [I/C] from 20/10/1803 to 20/01/1805 was the Collector. In 1868, the Nilgiris District was bifurcated from the Coimbatore District. At the opening of the present century there were ten taluks in the district viz., Bhavani, Coimbatore, Dharapuram, Erode, Karur, Kollegal, Palladam, Pollachi, Sathyamangalam and Udumalaipettai. The name of Sathyamangalam taluk was subsequently changed as Gopichettipalaiyam.

Avinashi taluk was formed in the year Karur taluk happened to be transferred to Tiruchirappalli district. In 1927, some villages of Bhavani taluk together with a few village from Salem district were constituted into Mettur Area but very soon i.e, in 1929, this area was transferred to Salem district.

Again in the year 1956 considerable area of the district, viz., the whole of Kollegal taluk was transferred to Mysore State as part of the States Re-organisation Scheme. In 1975, Sathyamangalam sub-taluk was upgraded as a full fledged taluk.

Again in 1979, Perundurai sub-taluk of Erode and Mettupalayam sub-taluk of Avanashi were also upgraded into independent taluks.Thus the total number of taluks in the district came to twelve. This, however, did not last long. In the same year (1979) six taluks were bifurcated from the district to constitute a new district viz, Erode.

Under G.O. Ms. No. 1917 Revenue dt. 31-8-79, the following six taluks were bifurcated from then Coimbatore district to from Erode district. Bhavani, Gopichettipalayam, Sathyamangalam, Erode, Perundurai and Dharapuram. This bifurcation considerably reduced the size of the district. It has only nine taluks now, viz. Pollachi, Coimbatore (North), Avanashi, Palladam, Udumalpettai, Tirupur, Valparai, Coimbatore (South) and Mettupalayam.

Coimbatore is also famous for the manufacture of motor pump sets and varied engineering goods, due to which it has earned the title “Detroit of the South”.The Development of Hydroelectricity from the Pykara falls in the 1930s led to a cotton boom in Coimbatore.

The result has been a strong economy and a reputation as one of the greatest industrial cities in South India. According to ancient manuscripts, Coimbatore’s history can be traced to the Irula tribal chief Kovan and his clan who were it’s earliest settlers and the founders of “Kovanpatti” a part of Kongunadu. Years later, the surrounding forests were cleared, and the founder of “Kovanpatti” a part of kongunadu. Years later, the surrounding forests were cleared, and a new village was formed called “Kovanputhur”, which over the years came to be known as “Coimbatore”.

In spite of it’s prominence as a busting industrial city, Coimbatore still remains one of the most pollution free cities in India. Covering an area of 23.5 square Kilometers, the city houses some of the biggest names in Indian Industry. The major industries include textiles, textile machinery, automobile spares,motors, electronics, steel and aluminium foundries. Tirupur – a neighbouring town has carves a niche for itself in the garments market. Agriculture however remains the major occupation.

The rich fertile soil and tropical climate is excellent for the growth of millet, paddy, cotton, tea, oil seeds and tobacco. The city is also known for it’s educational institutions. Coimbatore Agricultural University is renowned as one of the best colleges of it’s industrial and technological growth, traditions and age old customs are still held in high esteem. The temples bear witness to the religiousness and love of art and architecture of the people. There are also a number of places of tourist intrest around Coimbatore. Ootacamund (ooty for short), is one of the most popular tourist spots in India.

To go in and around Coimbatore in 2010 would be a lot more interesting than in was even 5 years back. The Mall culture arrived only recently in the city with the opening of Brookfields on BrookeBond Road. Now of course, there are ones coming up on every major road. Then there are theme parks like Black Thunder in the same district, which was once Asia's largest water theme park. Kovai Kondattam is closer to the city and on the way to Siruvani. Maharaja World opened few years ago, with a theme park, and a Multiplex. Siruvani dam is the main water resource for the city, along with projects like the Atthikadavu and Bhavani. The Kovai Kuttralam falls is the nearest waterfall to the city and is a famous recreation spot for the city-dwellers. There is also an artificial lake maintained by the Corporation on the Trichy Road with boating facilities. Coimbatore is also now home to branded showrooms, especially for the factory outlets of apparels because most are manufactured in units within the city. Hence Coimbatore is also called the Manchester of India. The famous hospitals here include Kovai Medical Centre & Hospital , the PSG Hospitals, KG Hospital, G Kuppusamy Memorial Hospital, Kurinchi Hospital and Aravind Eye hospital on Avinashi Road, Ganga Hospital on Mettupalayam road, and Vasan Eye care which has adopted this city as it's major care initiative. Premium schools and Colleges abound in this district from decades, and thus this region has been an education centre too. Institutions like PSG, Ramakrishna, Park, Kumaraguru, Govt Coll of Tech, Forest College, Coimbatore Institute of tech, and universities like Karunya, Bharathiar, Agriculatural Univ, Anna Univ, and Avinashilingam make this place a student's home.

This city is extrememly cosmopolitan. Each area has a major community centered in it. There is a strong North Indian, Malayalee and North East community, along with minorities like Anglo Indians that enjoy the climate and hustle of the city together.

Coimbatore witnessed a transition after the Worldwide Tamil Conference in July 2010. Since then the city has been upgraded to near-international standards with rubber paved roads, underwater sewerage systems, pedestrian sidewalks, and a number of communal parks all over the city. We must not forget Coddissia, which is among the largest Exhibition halls in India.

So here you have it, one of India's loveliest, homeliest, and progressive cities. For those of you who have to call yourselves it's guests, do visit and enjoy... For those of you who call it home.. There are some things that we need to do to improve it, and retain it's charm for posterity. I call upon all lovers of Coimbatore to stand for this piece of history, and take it forward strongly into the unseen future.

JAI COIMBATORE!!