Historical aspects of surgery

Abstract

A historical account of the surgery is made starting in prehistoric times and with phenomenon of pain elliciting an instinctive surgical response in primitive man. Trepanation is specially mentioned as an ancient technique and because of its magic meaning; in particular trepanation in the peruvian-bolivian area is detailed along this context. From Prehistory and after giving some brief consideration to some contemporary primitive societies; the text details the surgical contributions of Mesopotamian, Egyptian and Indian civilizations. Greek culture is then considered with its "warrior surgeons" during IX century B.C. and later with the great physician and surgeon Hippocrates. This is followed by roman Medicine and its great figures Celsus and the graecoroman Galen and then by the brilliant Arabian Medicine and its outstanding representatives Abucalsis and his AI- Tasrif. By the end of Middle Age Salerno, Bolonia and Montpellier have established the roots of modern University; some of the most important representatives of this era were Chauliac, Lanfranchi and Mondeville. During Renaissance De Vigo, Paré, Vesalio, Aquapendente, Paracelso and some others are specially mentioned. Surgery loses its impetus for several years after Renaissance and it only revives during XVII Century with the great Hunter. XIX Century follows and Surgery struggles with success with pain, infection, hemorrhage and shock. As an especial epoch making Morton must be mentioned when in 1846 he successfully applied general anesthesia for the first time in history at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Some other important figures of this XIX Century were Semmelweis and Lister in their fight against germs and Billroth, Mikulicz, Bigelow, Halstedt, Kocher, Polya, and Miles as brilliant representatives of Surgery. Finally, present Century is mentioned in connection with its outstanding figures and achievements in surgery.