1561: French surgeon Ambroise Paré publishes La méthode curative des playes et fractures de la teste humaine, or "Treatment method for wounds and fractures of the human head."
Surgery, in Paré's time, was considered a low profession and very few physicians deigned to practice it. Barbers, oddly enough, were often called upon to do the actual cutting and Paré received his early training as a barber-surgeon. His subsequent success played a big role in elevating the profession.
Paré, considered the preeminent surgeon of the 16th century and one of the fathers of modern surgery, was spurred to write his treatise following the death of Henri II, who died after taking a blow to the head during a tournament.
The treatise was in two parts: The first part described the anatomy of the cranium and was later included in Anatomie Universale, Paré's authoritative study of the human anatomy. The second dealt with specific methods for treating various wounds and fractures of the skull and head.
Paré wrote widely on various medical conditions and therapies. He spent more than 30 years in part-time service with the French army and became an authority on the treatment of battlefield wounds and amputations. He found, for example, that egg yolk, oil of roses and turpentine worked better for cauterizing gunshot wounds than boiling oil, the common practice at the time.
He almost single-handedly revived podalic version, a procedure in obstetrics that involves turning an abnormally positioned fetus inside the womb so it emerges feet first during birth. This practice had declined into near obscurity over the centuries and its revival saved a lot of babies that would have otherwise been lost.
It remained in widespread use until being largely supplanted by Caesarean section.
In addition, Paré ran a private practice in Paris and served as royal surgeon to four French monarchs, including the unfortunate Henri II.
(Source: Various)
This article first appeared on Wired.com Feb. 28, 2008.
See Also:- Feb. 28, 1935: Sheer Bliss
