Almora (Uttarakhand): The doctor, who had discovered the miracle drug hydroxychloroquine which is now being sought by the USA and other countries in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, was born in Uttarakhand.
The doctor, Sir Ronald Ross, who had won the Nobel Prize for medicine in 1902, the first British to win the Nobel Prize, for discovering quinine, was born in Uttarakhand's Almora district.
Here is the ETV Bharat’s special report on Dr Ross and his discovery of miracle drug which cured malaria.
There was a time when malaria was known as a fatal disease. Innumerable people had died prematurely from this disease.
People believed that the incurable malaria fever was due to the polluted air of the plains.
The first to know the cause of this disease was Sir Ronald Ross. He proved that malaria was caused by mosquitos.
He then discovered quinine. He was awarded Nobel Prize for this. He was the first British born outside Europe who had got the Nobel Prize.
Sir Ronald Ross was born in Almora
Sir Ronald Ross was born on May 13, 1857, in Almora. The house where he was born was also known as Kankarkoti House.
The house still exists in Almora and at present, it is the official residence of Almora district senior Superintendent of Police.
Former health director Dr JC Durgapal said that drug quinine from which Chloroquine is made was instrumental in eradicating malaria.
According to Dr Durgapal, apart from malaria, Chloroquine cures several other diseases.
He said that it is also used for the treatment of autoimmune disorder or pain in joints. The drug is also effective for the treatment of pain in knees and toothache.
He said that though it is difficult to confirm how effective the drug can be as far as coronavirus is concerned, it is nevertheless effective for those who have recovered from the coronavirus disease.
That is why many countries, including America, are demanding for this drug from India because India is the biggest producer of this drug.
Dr Durgapal, however, said that there are several side effects of chloroquine such as its consumption affects bone marrow because it stops the production of blood. That is why it is not given to pregnant women and children.
Sir Ronald Ross wanted to be a writer
Ronald Ross was the eldest among the ten children of a top army officer of British Indian Army Sir Cambell Grant Ross and Matilda Charlotte Elderton.
He was sent to England for studies when he was eight-year-old. In his childhood, he was interested in arts and poetry.
He was also excellent in mathematics. He had won a national award in painting at the age of 16.
He wanted to be a writer, but his father got him into a medical college.
He had become a doctor at the age of 22.
He joined the Indian Medical Service after two years. He spent a total of 25 years in this service.
During his service in India, he went to England to pursue a course in Bacteriology. This course changed the direction of his life.
Nobel Prize for medicine
He started research on malaria while residing in different places in India. In 1897, he proved that malaria is caused and spread due to a mosquito bite.
He had made this discovery on August 21, 1897. The next day he had written a poem about this in a letter to his wife.
Though he followed his career as a physician and scientist, Ronald Ross was a multifaceted person as he also wrote many poems and novels.
