Natia Shakaia

Medicine is the field, which is vital for our existence. Like all other spheres even medicine went through its steps of development from the ancient time till now. It is obvious that going through these steps was not simple, as it required huge effort and the time of course. Though it was hard, the results are so fascinating that the procedures that were considered as impossible by doctors of ancient time look very ordinary for modern medicine. This is the power of the time and the human attempt.

I was very interested from when originally the medicine gains the power. I searched and found out that French surgeon Ambreos Paer held one of the first surgeries during the 16th century. According to Par “To eliminate that which is superfluous, restore that which has been dislocated, separate that which has been united, join that has been divided and repair the defects of nature”.

The medicine required a very long time to reach the results it has now. Even in the 21st century when nothing seems to be impossible, we realize that there are some things that cannot be cured.

Before I will share with you the progress the 21st century reached, let’s take a look when it all started.

Though humans learned how to make and use tools in the surgery, surgeons were powerless with the treatment of bleeding, pain release and infection.

In the ancient times, the Egyptians had some knowledge of anatomy from making mummies, but they were weak in treating wounds and broken bones. As for the Greeks, they cleaned wounds with wine. It must be mentioned, that this kind of treatment was very clever, as far as we know that alcohol protects the wound from the infection. As I found out, the medicine was the most developed in India as well, the Indians were pioneers in plastic surgery. By that time India was very strict with severe rules. People were often punished by having their nose cut off. As a result an operation to reconstruct the nose was common.

The major step for the development of the medicine starts from the 19 century, when the scientist discovered anesthetics. The medicine became more advanced in the 20 century with operations that were made with less mistakes. The most difficult surgery was on the brain and on the heart, but 20 century could deal with this kind task as well. I must point out the fact that the first heart transplant was made in 1967 by Christian Bernard

As for the 21st century, this is a century that offers a vast number of opportunities; the century in which such diseases are being cured, that were undefeated early. And this is an epoch, which gives us hopes to be waiting for more developments and discoveries in medicine.

The 21st century fascinates us more and more with the success the scientists made in medicine, for instance, first face transplant in 2005 and so on.

One of the most important steps is, the project published in 2000 called “Human genes project”, which gives us the opportunity to find out what our 23,000 genes can do. As I found out, heart diseases were lowered for 40 %, which gives us a sign that nowadays’ medicine knows perfectly how to deal with heart problems.

A very interested fact occurred in 1996 when one of the American citizen with AIDS expected to live about three to five years and now expects to live to 69 years. But the next challenge is remedy against AIDS.

In the end, though the medicine has reached its highest point in the 21st century, even today there are some diseases that are incapable to cure. I’m talking about the cancer, which is one of the most important subjects of study for scientist and doctors. Hopefully, nothing is impossible. If not now, maybe after several years. So let’s trust medicine and hope for the best.

As for me, I really hope that my country will be equipped with the clinics of the highest class, so that going abroad for the treatment won’t be necessary, which require additional expenses. You will probably agree with me, that this is the field that should be developed in every country. Medicine is our future for the better world.

Natia Shakaia

Read this article in Georgian here.

The contents of this article are the sole responsibility of the author, and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of ALDA and the European Union.