THE RELEVANCE OF TRADITIONAL BIRD DRUGS IN RELATION TO MODERN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE IN MADHYA PRADESH

If one looks back over a few centuries, one can see that in every household, it was mostly the older people who used to administer medicines for many of the diseases. Of course, in very complicated cases more experienced people who later on came to be known as physicians were consulted. This class later twned professional and the system was perpetuated hereditarily. Traditional medicine then formed part of the culture. But with the advent of aHopatby there has been a great set-back for traditional medicines all over the world. In the ethno-zoological studies undertaken recently in Madhya Pradesh, I have come upon a host of facts pertaining to the use of animal drugs by the tribals in the treatment of a variety of diseases. Of these, the data pertaining to birds is dealt with in this paper.

uses, mechanical uses, industrial uses, fuel, fertilizers, ornamental and decorative purposes, bioaesthetics, costume, jewellery, perfume, entertainment/games, pets/hobbies, baits, dowry/gifts, religious purpose, omen, astrology, witchcraft, harmful animals, pests, vectors, totems, taboos, etc.Along with it, the impact of animals on aboriginal cultures as well as folklores and myths about them were also studied.In the field work the tribal map of India prepared by Gohan (1971) helped us much in getting a general idea of the district-wise distribution of various tribes.Details of methodology and survey are given in an earlier paper by the author (1988).

OBSERVATIONS
Detailed uses of the birds as drugs in Madhya Pradesh are appended in tabular form.
The names of birds as well as the tribes are arranged alphabetically.

Whooping Pardhan (Seoni) cough
A hole is made on the shell of the Breathing Gond (Raipur) egg, some quantity of opium and trouble certain herbs pushed into the yolk, then the shell completely covered with cowdung and roasted in fire, the egg orally given for 15 days, twice daily Hen Eggs orally taken and applied Breathing Bhumiya (Jabalpur); Gallus gallus (L.) externally on ribs for 5-6 days trouble Kol (Jabalpur and N arasimhapur) Hen Egg massaged on body for 4-5 Swelling Dhanwar (Bilaspur); Gallus gallus (L.)

Hen
Egg yolk mixed with vermilion Gallus gallus (L.) and applied externally on the swollen glands of neck for 2 times Hen Egg orally given for 2-3 days Gallus gallus (L.) once daily

Hen
Two raw eggs mixed in a glass of Gallus gallus (L.) cow's urine and given in pregnancy between 4-5 months Hen Two raw eggs taken by males Gallus gallu.s(L.) before intercourse

Hen
Egg yolk, orally taken as well as Gallus gallus (L.) applied externally and put bandages for 3-4 days Hen Egg yolk applied externally Gallus gallus (L.) on the testicles for 3-4 times

Hen
Egg yolk applied externally at Gallus gallus (L.) the sight of snake bite, once or twice Hen Egg placed on a blanket and the Gallus gallus (L.) child make to sit on it with his anal reigion above the egg once daily, for 3-4 days (worms get attached to the blanket)

SUMMARY
Analysis of data collected shows that there are altogether 136 medical applications of birds or their derivatives among 39 tribes belonging to 41 districts of Madhya Pradesh.Group-wise breakup of applications is: peacock 44, hen 38, pigeon 33, owl 9, crow 6, vulture 2, drongo 1, hornbill 1, kite 1 and myna 1.The hen's egg has the maximum number of applications as a single derivative.There are 37 of them used in curing a variety of diseases: breathing trouble, swelling of body, pneumonia, bronchial trouble, ribs pain, chest pain, joint pain, swelling and pain in testicles, cough, cold, burns, boil, swelling of finger, boil on neck, pus in ears, piles, rickets, tuberculosis, feeble mindedness, general weakness, sexual weakness in male, abortion, tonsillitis, pr~vention of pregnancy, snake bite, round worms and tapeworms.It may be because of hen's close association with human beings.This is followed by the feather of peacock having 22 applications; curing stomach complaints, body ache, ear trouble, small pox, chicken pox, fever, vomiting, neurotic complaints, scorpion bite, delirium, cold, cough, whooping cough, breathing troubles and for bearing male child.No wonder that in ancient times peacock was one of the most sought after export items from India.Similarly, the maximum number of applications of a single derivative for curing a particular disease is the blood of pigeon.It is massaged for cQre of paralysis by 21 tribes in 19 districts.Some of the other widely applied drugs are the lower part of foot of peacock for ear trouble (by 19 tribes in 14 districts); feather of pigeon for paralysis (by 16 tribes in 19 districts); and flesh of pigeon for paralysis (by 15 tribes in 19 districts).It is interesting to note that pigeon plays an important role in the treatment of paralysis.There are as many as 19 applications, the parts made use of in majority of cases are blOOd/flesh.The bones, feet and claws of peacock have 13 modes of applications for curing ear trouble.These parts contain abundant calcium.It is, threrfore, probable that calcium plays a significant role in curing ear complaints.This view is further supporte~ by the fact that tribals often use the shells of cowrie for the same purpose.

DISCUSSION
From the above account it can be deduced that the traditional animal drugs are much more relevant today than any other time because the great majority of people in developing countries cannot afford allopathic treaunents, especially in complicated and serious cases, owing to the prohibitive cost.This system has an added advantage when compared to the allopathic system.Its efficacy has been proved by the generations and it has practically no side effects.So it is high time that every modern primary health care centre should have a physician well versed in traditional drugs.It is also required to open training and research centres to bring traditional drugs on firmer scientific footing.If researches show that some of these organs used in curing have no pharmaceutical value, except as a source of rich protein and vitamin, then the tribals must be educated properly.Those birds \\'hich possess special curative qualities should be cultured and must be made available in large numbers which will not only help in curing diseases but also will give employment opportunities.This will also prevent the extinction of many of the dwindling species of birds.The tribals normally kill the birds for curing a particular disease at a time making use of only one or two organs, while discarding most of the other parts.But in a bird farm all the useful derivatives can be preserved and be utilised as and when required.
The scanty knowledge of traditional animal drugs is obvious from the fact that there is not much literature available on the subject except for the occasional notings in the writings of Verrier Elwin and other eminent aniliropoligists and in reports of different forest departments, travelogues and gazetteers.Even in 'Materia Medica' by Kent (1970) mention is made only about a dozen animals that are being utilised; curiously enough not a single one of them is a bird.Much general information is available in 'A Dictionary of Indian Raw Materials and Industrial Products: The Wealth of India Raw Materials' published by the Indian Council of Scientific andIndustrial Research, New Delhi (1948-1976).In conclusion it may be stated that this being a new concept, the study needs many years of painstaking research for its proper development.
HenEgg yolk used as ear drops for Gallus gallus (L.) one or two days, once daily