My mother, then 81, developed a ‘callosity’ in her index finger: a part of the skin became hard and discolored. Since there was no identifiable reason for it and it caused her no great discomfort, the local doctor in India, where she lived, suggested she apply some moisturizing lotion on the spot. Her three brothers, all distinguished doctors, wouldn’t, however, leave it at that. They came up with two medicinal creams that she was to use morning and evening.
When I visited her months later, the callosity not only remained, but had grown. Since I lived in Washington, DC, and worked for an international organization, I contacted reputed dermatologists, who recommended a panoply of various medicines. I bought them and send them to her, insisting she use them.
My brother, a psychologist who had been in medical school, examined the finger a year later and found no improvement. He wrote to his professional friends worldwide, gathered latest data and prescribed some more medicine. No result either.
When I visited her months later, the callosity not only remained, but had grown. Since I lived in Washington, DC, and worked for an international organization, I contacted reputed dermatologists, who recommended a panoply of various medicines. I bought them and send them to her, insisting she use them.
My brother, a psychologist who had been in medical school, examined the finger a year later and found no improvement. He wrote to his professional friends worldwide, gathered latest data and prescribed some more medicine. No result either.
Two years later, mother went to a wedding in a remote village and stayed overnight. The maid, who brought her a cup of tea in the morning, notice her discolored finger, promptly went out and returned with a raw papaya-like fruit, broke the tip and applied the oozing sap to her finger. Mother had a slightly itchy sensation and the callous patch turned another color. The next morning the maid brought another fruit with the tea and, despite mother’s misgivings, applied the sap again.
When my mother returned home after two days, the patch was gone. A fifteen year old rural girl who could not read had found a solution that had tenaciously eluded top medical specialists in three continents.
When my mother returned home after two days, the patch was gone. A fifteen year old rural girl who could not read had found a solution that had tenaciously eluded top medical specialists in three continents.
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