From blood groups we have come to DNA and even finer classifications. Basic classification of blood groups remains in tact. To state precisely they are O, B, A and AB with Rhesus factors positive or negative and chromosomes X and Y.

Spencer Wills in his book `The Journey of Man', published in the USA in 2001 has traced B group to be one lakh year old and O group to be 60,000 years old in India . A is rare in India, assessed to only 4%. Rough estimates put B to be found in 50%, O group 30% and A group 4% of the Indian population. The rest is supposed to be AB. The racial genealogy is rather interesting delineating castes, tribes and dark and white population.

Such studies have not thrown light on either a) susceptibility to particular diseases or b) behavioural patterns.

Price's text book of medicine mentions that people belonging to O group of blood are prone to peptic ulcers and cataracts. Certain diseases are confined to dark coloured population. Similarly, herpes Zoroaster manifests in white coloured people.

One thing is certain that racial traits or body chemistry are no longer confined strictly to a particular blood group simply because of unions involving people of various blood groups producing even hybrid types. It will be interesting to note that the tribals of Abuzmaadh of Bastar look like the British in complexion and features although the rest of the tribal population is dark complexioned with typical unmistakable features of the Mudia tribes.

Coming to the behavioural side we can deduce:

1) A person of blood group O is a universal donor. In an emergency his blood can be given to any of the three other groups provided the RH factor is the same. One belonging to this group (O) is kind, selfless, helpful and perservering just like the mythical Shravan Kumar.

2) As opposed to this, a person belonging to the AB group is a universal recipient. He can receive transfusion from any blood group (of the same Rh factor) but his blood will be poison for any other group. He suffers from complex diseases and is unpredictable in nature.

3) Persons belonging to the B group are native Indians, hardy, strong and solid enjoying relatively speaking sound health. They are the conventional type.

4) Those belonging to `A' group of blood are only 4% in India. They are courageous, extraordinary and selfless. Some fighter pilots belong to this group. You may find centre-forward, right and left forwards in team games like hockey, football or rugby belonging to this blood-group. Their health generally is smooth-sailing.

On the basis of these broad characteristics, the nature of a person could be assessed. So also the diseases and the action of particular medicine (chemical composition) in a blood group can be found just as we have learnt from the `Text book of Medicine' that people belonging to blood group O are prone to peptic ulcers and cataracts. For them the treating doctor may use NSAIDs with caution. For the B and A groups, traditional chemical compositions may respond as per the book without complications. For instance these persons may tolerate daclofenic acid and ibupropen as opposed to those belonging to the `O' group.

Nimuselide is banned in the USA but for viral and other seasonal fevers it is the drug of choice for Indians who do not respond either to parcetamol or ASA. The reason could be because of compulsory ingestion of iodine by each and every Indian via iodised salt.

Further in India surruptitious use of nitrates in `heart friendly oils' and use of sulphobenzoic imide in sweetening agents calling it just `saccharine' sodium and the use of calcium carbide, urea and insecticides also have to be taken into consideration by the treating doctor because constant systemic ingestion creates its perils.

Starvation and detoxifying therapies as in naturopathy are perhaps, successful which do eliminate iodine, nitrates, sulphobenzoic imide, calcium carbide, urea and insecticides from our daily diet. Thus, the desired relief from ailments is obtained.

-Writers are CMO, CGHS & DGP Retd respectively.