Medieval doctors

How much did surgery improve throughout the Middle Ages?

A little as surgeons gained experience and test new theories on soldiers, however many attempts were often unsuccessful

What techniques did surgeons use?

Trepanning, cauterisation and anaesthetics

How effective were anaesthetics?

Not particularly since the dosage was hard to get right, so many patients either didn’t have enough or had too much, which sometimes caused their death!

What anaesthetics were used?

Herbal mixtures such as opium or hemlock (these are poisonous and addictive!)

What was the purpose of anaesthetics?

To make patients feel less pain during surgery

How did most surgeries take place?

Without anaesthetics, so surgeons were held down or strapped down while the procedure was carried out

What is trepanning?

A hole is cut into the top of the skull

What was the purpose of trepanning?

It was supposed to allow bad spirits to escape the body

How’s many people survived trepanning?

Not many, however there is archaeological evidence to suggest some regrowth on the skull which suggests that there may have been survivors from this method

What is cauterisation?

The process of burning wounds to seal blood vessels and stop bleeding

How dangerous was cauterisation?

It risked a severe burn for the patient and caused significant pain, as well as the threat of infection resulting in death