In Ancient Babylonia a collection of laws called the Code of Hammurabi was established around 1754BC. Among the listed decrees were the drastic penalties that had to be paid by unsuccessful surgeons. For instance, if a surgeon should be found responsible for a patient's death, his hands were to be amputated.
Also if an eye surgeon accidentally blinded a slave, he had to replace him and if a freeman lost an eye because of faulty surgery, the surgeon's eye was removed. These severe decrees encouraged physicians to use the safer (for them) option of herbal drugs rather than surgery.
In medieval Europe, surgery was considered to be a lesser profession compared to the practice of medicine. In 1215 The Fourth Lateran Council forbade those in holy orders to include surgery in their practice of medicine so they would not spill blood.
Guy de Chauliac (c. 1300 – July 25, 1368), a French surgeon who was physician to the Pope completed his seminal work, Chirurgia magna (Great Surgery) in 1363 in Avignon. In seven volumes, the treatise covered anatomy, anesthetics, bloodletting, cauterization, drugs, fractures, ulcers and wounds.
For many years de Chauliac was considered to be the most eminent surgeon around and his good character was revealed when during the plague epidemics at Avignon he continued to tend the sick while many other physicians fled.
Both Bach and Handel went blind after eye operations by charlatan surgeon John Taylor. Taylor was one of the most flamboyant quacks of his age, travelling from town to town in a coach decorated with pictures of eyeballs.
In the mid 19th century, Dr Robert Liston was the most celebrated London surgeon around (he was known as "the finest surgeon in Europe"). A born performer, crowds flocked to watch Robert Liston execute amputations at University College, London on fully conscious patients. He was renowned particularly for the speed in which he worked and one of his fastest operations involved the removal of a 45-pound scrotal tumor from a patient who triumphantly carried away the enlarged parts in a wheelbarrow.
Not only was Liston a speedy surgeon, he also invented the sticking plaster, the "Bulldog" artery forceps and an effective leg splint.
The first and, to date, only woman awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor was Dr. Mary E. Walker, for her medical service at the Battle of Bull Run during the American Civil War. A trained surgeon, she served as a civilian nurse/surgeon's assistant, initially without pay, because the Union Army did not permit women to be military surgeons. She also tended wounded soldiers after the Battle of Chickamauga and the Battle of Atlanta and, despite her civilian status, spent four months as a prisoner of war.
Renowned British military surgeon James Barry was, a pioneer in the medical field with a career spanning over 50 years. After his death in 1865 the nurse prepping his body for burial noted female anatomy and stretch marks from pregnancy. Barry had been born a woman named Margaret Ann Bulkley.
Russian physician Fyodor Grigorievich Uglov was born on October 5, 1904. In 1994 he was listed by Guinness World Records as the oldest practicing surgeon in the world. Uglov retired from practice at the age of 102.
American gynecological surgeon Dr. Howard Jones was forced into retirement in 1978 due to rigid age restrictions for surgeons at Johns Hopkins. Rather than end his medical career, Jones moved to Virginia, where in 1981 at the age of 70, he performed the first IVF case in the U.S. He died in 2015 at the age of 104.
Rick Jolly (October 29, 1946 – January 13, 2018) , a British Army surgeon in the Falklands conflict, saved every life under his care, both British and Argentine. He was the only man decorated by both Britain and Argentina for his services in the war.
Also if an eye surgeon accidentally blinded a slave, he had to replace him and if a freeman lost an eye because of faulty surgery, the surgeon's eye was removed. These severe decrees encouraged physicians to use the safer (for them) option of herbal drugs rather than surgery.
In medieval Europe, surgery was considered to be a lesser profession compared to the practice of medicine. In 1215 The Fourth Lateran Council forbade those in holy orders to include surgery in their practice of medicine so they would not spill blood.
Guy de Chauliac (c. 1300 – July 25, 1368), a French surgeon who was physician to the Pope completed his seminal work, Chirurgia magna (Great Surgery) in 1363 in Avignon. In seven volumes, the treatise covered anatomy, anesthetics, bloodletting, cauterization, drugs, fractures, ulcers and wounds.
For many years de Chauliac was considered to be the most eminent surgeon around and his good character was revealed when during the plague epidemics at Avignon he continued to tend the sick while many other physicians fled.
 |
| Guy de Chaulhac |
Both Bach and Handel went blind after eye operations by charlatan surgeon John Taylor. Taylor was one of the most flamboyant quacks of his age, travelling from town to town in a coach decorated with pictures of eyeballs.
In the mid 19th century, Dr Robert Liston was the most celebrated London surgeon around (he was known as "the finest surgeon in Europe"). A born performer, crowds flocked to watch Robert Liston execute amputations at University College, London on fully conscious patients. He was renowned particularly for the speed in which he worked and one of his fastest operations involved the removal of a 45-pound scrotal tumor from a patient who triumphantly carried away the enlarged parts in a wheelbarrow.
Not only was Liston a speedy surgeon, he also invented the sticking plaster, the "Bulldog" artery forceps and an effective leg splint.
 |
| Robert Liston, 1847 portrait by Samuel John Stump |
The first and, to date, only woman awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor was Dr. Mary E. Walker, for her medical service at the Battle of Bull Run during the American Civil War. A trained surgeon, she served as a civilian nurse/surgeon's assistant, initially without pay, because the Union Army did not permit women to be military surgeons. She also tended wounded soldiers after the Battle of Chickamauga and the Battle of Atlanta and, despite her civilian status, spent four months as a prisoner of war.
Renowned British military surgeon James Barry was, a pioneer in the medical field with a career spanning over 50 years. After his death in 1865 the nurse prepping his body for burial noted female anatomy and stretch marks from pregnancy. Barry had been born a woman named Margaret Ann Bulkley.
Russian physician Fyodor Grigorievich Uglov was born on October 5, 1904. In 1994 he was listed by Guinness World Records as the oldest practicing surgeon in the world. Uglov retired from practice at the age of 102.
American gynecological surgeon Dr. Howard Jones was forced into retirement in 1978 due to rigid age restrictions for surgeons at Johns Hopkins. Rather than end his medical career, Jones moved to Virginia, where in 1981 at the age of 70, he performed the first IVF case in the U.S. He died in 2015 at the age of 104.
Rick Jolly (October 29, 1946 – January 13, 2018) , a British Army surgeon in the Falklands conflict, saved every life under his care, both British and Argentine. He was the only man decorated by both Britain and Argentina for his services in the war.
Khassan Baiev was the single surgeon for over 80.000 during the Chechen wars and at one point during the conflict he performed 67 amputations and eight brain operations in a 48-hour period. He was also known for treating both Chechen and Russian soldiers.
Indian orthopaedic specialist Dr Manuj Wadhwa carried out 331 joint replacements in March 2013 — a world record for surgery.
No comments:
Post a Comment