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Curiosity: The greatest virtue of man?
Human brain by virtue of its natural inclination is always
curious to discover the answers to curiosities to mitigate its
craze and internal struggle. Human mind is a multifaceted
gadget very hard to master and decipher. It is the most
complex and struggling appendage of the human body.
It constantly strives to outscore its curiosities and hunger,
which can be curbed(satiated) only when it itself vanquishes
its queries and imaginations. Human creative and innovative
nature has created miracles in its hunt and thirst to discover
new and amazing things, which proved very useful and
precious for the welfare of mankind. It is a general saying
that necessity is the mother of invention. In other sense,
we can call it curiosity is the mother of invention.
Intelligence is the ability of a person to solve puzzles, which
he encounters in his daytoday life. In a bid to resolve the
mystery of brainstorm, sometimes he has created wonders
and has been able to invent novelties. His intellectual mind
set and craze has always helped him to find out the solution
and remedy for the problems encountered. Intellectuals such
as Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci, Edison, Aristotle shared a set
of strategies that could be imagined only by a few people.
It is a common saying that none cuts a diamond, but a
diamond. Poison is the treatment for poison. Alifesaving
drug is processed from snake venom to treat snake poisoning.
These are the phenomenal effects and properties of the
elements. Man never knew these natural cures and remedies,
but his curiosity and inquisitiveness has made him to discover
all this.
Man has made a plethora of newer and newer discoveries in
the technologies and methodologies, from the discovery of
gene, stem cells, autotransplantation to stem cell generation
from urine and nails, etc. The global literature is full of
ventures and laurels that the medical research has brought.
Majority of the 20thCentury happenings have influenced the
21stCentury. The 20thCentury saw a revolutionary change in
the living style of many people of which they were customary
and habitual to live, owing to social, ideological political,
technological, and medical innovations. The 20thCentury saw
a tremendous change because of significant inventions like
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DOI:
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147
mobile phones and computer software, which has completely
transformed mans status of living. These are known as
marvelous achievements of the mankind.
However, it has to be understood that medical science is not
an exact science in itself, such as science of mathematics,
physics, and chemistry. In fact, medical science does not
possess any general steadfast principles that are valid under
all the circumstances and can be applied to all people.
Centuries ago medicine was invented to help people. Today
life is difficult to be imagined without people in the white.
Leaving a doctors office with a smile on the face, on having
being treated of some serious and dangerous illness and on
having being cured, we thank God that, the one who helped
us, has chosen this profession.
Same paradigm-that poison kills poison-can be applied
for curing oral cancer. Oral cancer is a tobaccorelated
phenomenon and it has devastated the lives of millions
across the globe. The tobacco plant, Nicotiana tabacum,
has been responsible for more deaths than any other herb.
However, the literature has also been endowed with its
use as holy herb since the preColumbian era. Used for
treating pain, poisonous bites, ulcers, nasal polyps, and basal
cell carcinoma; nowadays, green tobacco is being used for
treating oral cancer. It also acts as an important ingredient
of commercially available toothpastes, and even used as
tobacco vaccines against Streptococcus species as highlighted
in the literature.
The first report of the production of edible vaccine (a surface
protein from Streptococcus) in tobacco, at 0.02% of total leaf
protein level, appeared in 1990 in the form of a patent
application published under the International Patent
Cooperation Treaty. Subsequently, a number of attempts were
made to express various antigens in plants.
Contemporary Clinical Dentistry | Apr-Jun 2014 | Vol 5 | Issue 2
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Damle: Curiosity: The greatest virtue of man
A glut of research and literature supports proves the fact
that the things, which were discarded during ancient times,
have biological value and health care benefits. For instance,
recently, scientists reported that part of hops that isnt used
for making beer contains healthful(hygienic) antioxidants
and could be used to battle cavities and gum diseases.
Antibacterial agents boost the toothpaste efficacy. Anew
bioinspired spongelike gel shrinks singlehandedly,
squeezing unspecialized cells inside it, and turning them into
cells that begin to form teeth. The new material was inspired
by the embryos power to shape organs, and it could enable
engineering of new teeth, bone, or other tissues.
Chewing gums have been discovered to be the main source
of headache in younger children. Cavities are contagious,
and microorganisms are transmitted from person to
person. Nowadays, contrary to the previous school of
thought, the extraction of the infected or carious tooth
in cardiac person is not indicated as it increases the risk
of adverse outcomes.
To sum up, research and invention, the two pillar stones of
development, should be explored and used prudently. They
can act like a doubleedged sword with uses and abuses both,
Contemporary Clinical Dentistry | Apr-Jun 2014 | Vol 5 | Issue 2
one being the life savior and other the life devastator e.g.,over
dosage and gratuitous use of tobacco causes cancer, whereas
the judicious usage of the same is used for curing oral cancer.
Thus, it is the aptitude of the human brain, which tends to
make either a considerate and intelligent use of the resources
available or to misuse it. The curious outlook of the human
brain works spontaneously in which the notorious elements
choose the path of disaster, whereas the noble souls search for
the path of continued existence and betterment of the human
race. Thus, human brain is an endowed gift to man which needs
to be utilized properly or else it can damage and destroy the
existence and entity of mankind. Ultimately, the basic concern
should be the welfare and betterment of the human race.
Prof. S. G. Damle
EditorInChief,
Contemporary Clinical Dentistry,
Email:journalccd@[Link]
How to cite this article: Damle SG. Curiosity: The greatest virtue of
man?. Contemp Clin Dent 2014;5:147-8.
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