Nov 6, 2025 | Surgery & The Knife
There are few figures in medical history as troubled as William Halsted, a man who has been referred to as “the most innovative and influential surgeon the United States has produced” and also the “father of modern surgery”. He was one of the greatest surgeons of his...
Sep 21, 2021 | Surgery & The Knife
In 1540, Henry VIII declared that “No carpenter, smith, weaver, or woman shall practice surgery.” Fortunately, things have changed quite considerably in the past 480 years, and there are now countless incredible women around the world working as surgeons. Female role...
Jun 8, 2021 | Surgery & The Knife
Before the discovery of general anaesthesia in the mid 19th century, surgery was a horrific prospect with the patient fully conscious and suffering unspeakable agony and a significant risk of death. In this era, the speed with which the surgeon could before the...
Jun 12, 2019 | Surgery & The Knife
Before the 1800s surgery was a risky business. In some London hospitals, the post-operative mortality rates were as high as 80%, and a mortality rate of 50% was considered acceptable. Operations were horrendous ordeals for the patients, with many dying on the table or...
Sep 19, 2018 | Surgery & The Knife
In modern medicine, the thought of performing surgery without wearing gloves is utterly unthinkable. It is common knowledge that their use helps to prevent the transmission of infection in operating theatres, as well as protecting the surgeon and other staff. This...
Aug 18, 2018 | Surgery & The Knife
This story, set in 1880s post Civil War America, particularly appealed to me due to my love of anatomy. The two main players in this unusual tale are very different individuals indeed. The first, Harriet Cole, was an African-American woman who worked as a cleaning...
