MYSTERIOUS REPTILES
September 2023
These mysterious creatures, without legs or wings, can move at a speed of 25 km / h ! The world has around 3,500 species (600 venomous), while there are about 300 in India. There are about 60 poisonous ones in India out of which only a few are important -- the Big Four -- Russell's viper (43% of the bites), Common krait (18%), Indian cobra (12%) and Indian saw-scaled viper (1.7%).
Snakes eat lizards, birds, frogs, insects, squirrels, rats, other snakes, etc. Humans of Naga community eat snakes, dogs and many of the moving creatures.
The subject of snakes is a very fascinating one with many stories about them. They have a high status in Hindu mythology. 'Manasa' is considered as the goddess of snakes, worshipped in Bengal and other parts of northeastern India for prevention and cure from snake bites and for fertility and prosperity. 'Vasuki', the serpent king that coils around the neck of Lord Shiva, is worshipped on 'Nagapanchami' day. 'Vasuki', the son of Kashyap and Kadru, is considered as the most powerful snake and an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. A thousand-headed serpent, the great Adi-Shesh is said to have protected the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu -- the infant Krishna.
India is home to some of the deadliest snakes on the planet: the viper, the cobra, the king cobra. Yet, the people of this village not only worship the snakes but also welcome them into their homes.
Watch the video to know more.
#WorldSnakeDay #FeelAlive
For reasons unknown, people in this district, far and near, used to come to me for treatment for snake bites while I was working in the 'Sanatorium' decades ago (we didn't have advanced facilities to treat snake bite victims). Almost everyday, we used to sight snakes in the wild 'Sanatorium campus' of more than 350 acres. Peacocks, which are said to kill snakes, used to coexist with the snakes in the campus ! Some of my writings on snakes published in those days are reprinted below.
PET COBRAS !!!
Yes, it’s true. In Shetphal village in Solapur district of Maharashtra
, people and cobra snakes live together as a family. The snakes and the people move about freely inside and outside the homes freely without any fear – people, including children, are not afraid of the snakes and the snakes are not afraid of the humans. In fact, a room in the home is reserved for the snakes which are worshipped by the family members. The room is called ‘Devasthanam’. Snakes and spirituality go hand in hand here. The village is about 200 km from Pune, and is also known as ‘The Land of Snakes’. The nearest railway stations are at Baramati and Katphal.
India is home to some of the deadliest snakes on the planet: the viper, the cobra, the king cobra. Yet, the people of this village not only worship the snakes but also welcome them into their homes.
Watch the video to know more.
#WorldSnakeDay #FeelAlive
https://youtu.be/CdmqXp7n94c
Why is there a snake in the medical logo?
The staff with the snake has long been a symbol of medicine and the medical profession. It originates from the story of Asclepius, who was revered by the ancient Greeks as a god of healing and whose cult involved the use of snakes.
"The Caduceus vs. Staff of Aesculapius - One Snake or Two?
There is much confusion of the true symbol of medicine. The single staff with one snake-entwined is the current American Medical Association logo. The histor y of this ancient symbol with a heritage stretching over two millennia is shrouded in the fog of history.1 Many physicians as well as the public are unaware there are two distinct symbols commonly used which have two different origins. For example in a 2014 survey in India revealed that only six percent of physicians knew that the Staff of Aesculapius was the true symbol of medicine.2
Aesculapius was the god of medicine and was the son of Apollo, the god of healing (). The Staff of Aesculapius is a rough-hewn branch representing plants and growth entwined by a single snake. Aesculapius was known as the god of medicine. He was killed by his grandfather, Zeus, with a thunderbolt because not enough people were passing onto the underworld due to his healing skills.3, 4"
Things you don’t learn in medical school: Caduceus
and
Abstract
It is a known fact that every symbol has a unique meaning. In that case what does this unique symbol, Caduceus, which is used, in various forms and modifications, by many medical organizations mean? Is it just a custom or does it have a deeper meaning? The story of this medical symbol started way back in 1400 BC, travelled through time, has undergone many changes, misconceptions and has finally reached the present state. Here we have tried to give you a glimpse of how it has evolved over time, what it actually means, what have we interpreted and what can we learn from it.
KEY WORDS: Caduceus, rod of asclepius, medical symbol
There are certain things that will not be taught in medical schools, and it is usually learnt out of our own interests. The Caduceus is one of them. Being in the medical profession for so many years, have we ever thought what that symbol that we wear on our coats, print on our prescription pads and textbooks, stand for? So let us get reminded of some of the long forgotten facts in medicine. The worthiness of the medical symbol has been debated for a long time.[1] If you observe closely there are two symbols that are used to represent medicine as seen in .[2] One is the Caduceus, and the other is the Rod of Asclepius. Caduceus is a symbol with a short staff entwined by two serpents, sometimes surmounted by wings while the Rod of Asclepius is the one with a single snake.[3] The similarity between both these symbols is the snake.
Left side image is the Rod of Asclepius while the right side image is the caduceus
Why A Snake?
Have you ever wondered why is a snake, which is a symbol of destruction[4] used ironically as a symbol of healing? Well, the answer lies deep sown in history when Moses, around 1400 BC, used the bronze serpent erected on the pole to cure the people who were bitten by snakes.[5] The other reasons why serpent has been used is the shedding of the skin that indicated longevity and immortality. The snake's ability to change from a lethargic stage to one of rapid activity symbolized the power to convalesce from an illness.[2] Charas and Martyn (1673) subjected the viper[6] to innumerable experimental investigations and concluded they were valuable remedies for itch, erysipelas, measles, smallpox, leprosy and were a valuable adjunct to the production of a beautiful skin.[6] Hence, the snake has been a powerful symbol of healing itself.[7]
The snake mentioned in the symbol is an Aesculapian snake which belongs to the family Colubridae. Its zoological name Elaphe longissima. Smooth, glossy, and slender, the snake has a uniformly brown back with a streak of darker color behind the eyes. The snake's belly is yellowish or whitish and has ridged scales that catch easily on rough surfaces[8] (like that of a pole or staff).
Which of These?
The confusion starts with the use of Caduceus and Rod of Asclepius. The Caduceus is a symbol of Hermes or Mercury in Greek and Roman mythology. Caduceus symbol is identified with thieves, merchants, and messengers, and Mercury is said to be a patron of thieves and outlaws, not a desirable protector of physicians.[8] The symbol originated when Mercury once attempted to stop a fight between two snakes by throwing his rod at them, whereupon they twined themselves around the rod, and the symbol was born.[2,8,9] The Rod of Asclepius belongs to Aesculapius, who was the revered Greek god of healing.
When Did We Get it Wrong?
The modern use of staff of Aesculapius started when The American Medical Association had the staff of Aesculapius as its symbol in 1910. The Royal Army Medical Corp, French Military Service, and other medical organizations had done the same. Even today the World Health Organization, Medical Council of India symbols have the staff of Aesculapius in them. US Army Medical Corps, the Public Health Service, and the US Marine Hospital however use the Caduceus largely as a result of the adoption of the Caduceus as its insignia by the US Army Medical Corps in 1902.[10] Thus, it symbolizes administrative emblem, implying neutral and noncombatant status.[11]
How Many of Us Really Know the Truth?
In 1990, a survey was done in the US and it was found that 62% of the professional associations used the Rod of Aesculapius while 37% used the Caduceus and 76% of commercial organizations used the Caduceus.[12]
Can It Be Related to A Disease?
Does any disease that can be treated by a stick come to your mind? Yes, it is none other than Dracunculus medinensis the guinea worm. This is potentially a disease that can be treated with the stick that was also one of the reasons why the medical symbol originated.[13]
Conclusion
The use of the symbol is very ironical as how can destructive creatures used to represent a healing purpose. The answer lies in the snakes characters of, skin shedding representing immortal life, sudden change in activity emphasizing transit from sickness to cure, early use in the bible, and most important of all it was used by Asclepius who is the god of healing."
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