Surgery History

Written by an author with plenty of experience holding a scalpel, Dr. David Schneider's in-depth biography is an encompassing history of the practice that has leapt forward over the centuries from the dangerous guesswork of ancient Greek physicians through the world-changing implant revolution of the 20th century.

 Today, astonishing surgical breakthroughs are making limb transplants, face transplants, and a host of other previously undreamed-of operations possible. But getting here has not been a simple story of medical progress. In Blood and Guts, veteran science writer Richard Hollingham weaves a compelling narrative from the key moments in surgical history. We have a ringside seat in the operating theater of University College Hospital in London as world-renowned Victorian surgeon Robert Liston performs a remarkable amputation in 30 seconds - from first cut to final stitch.

From an eminent surgeon and historian comes the “by turns fascinating and ghastly” (The New York Times Book Review, Editors’ Choice) story of surgery’s development—from the Stone Age to the present day—blending meticulous medical research with vivid storytelling. There are not many...

This program is read by the author. Paul Craddock's Spare Parts offers an original look at the history of medicine itself through the rich, compelling, and delightfully macabre story of transplant surgery from ancient times to the present day. How did an architect help pioneer blood transfusion...

In The Butchering Art, the historian Lindsey Fitzharris reveals the shocking world of 19th-century surgery on the eve of profound transformation. She conjures up early operating theaters - no place for the squeamish - and surgeons, working before anesthesia, who were lauded for their speed and brute strength. They were baffled by the persistent infections that kept mortality rates stubbornly high. A young, melancholy Quaker surgeon named Joseph Lister would solve the deadly riddle and change the course of history.

Discover the brutal, unvarnished truth of Viking-era medicine and battlefield survival. For generations, the Norse sagas and modern mythmakers have fed us a sanitized fantasy of the unfeeling Viking berserker. Beyond the Shield-Wall: The Savage Medicine and Silent Agony of the Viking Age by Tomas Somerled completely shatters this cinematic lie. This immersive historical nonfiction book plunges you into the terrifying reality of 9th-century warfare, revealing the horrific trauma and crude medical interventions that defined survival in the Dark Ages. The Norse did not possess a magical ...

With compassion and candor, leading neurosurgeon Henry Marsh reveals the fierce joy of operating, the profoundly moving triumphs, the harrowing disasters, the haunting regrets, and the moments of black humor that characterize a brain surgeon's life. If you believe that brain surgery is a precise and exquisite craft, practiced by calm and detached surgeons, this gripping, brutally honest account will make you think again.

Belleruth Naparstek's guided imagery surgery preparation audio program of soothing words is scored with calming music by Steven Mark Koh. The audio guides how to get ready for surgery by imagining a successful, safe and comfortable operation and recovery, complete with guided imagery suggestions...

When Michael Collins decided to become a surgeon, he was totally unprepared for the chaotic life of a resident at a major hospital. A natural overachiever, Collins' success in college and medical school led to a surgical residency at one of the most respected medical centers in the world, the famed Mayo Clinic. But compared to his fellow residents, Collins felt inadequate and unprepared.

"Enthralling. Harrowing. Heartbreaking. And utterly redemptive. Lindsey Fitzharris hit this one out of the park." —Erik Larson, author of The Splendid and the Vile Lindsey Fitzharris, the award-winning author of The Butchering Art, presents the compelling, true story of a visionary surgeon who...

This is the original Story of Medicine, first published in 1985 but as fresh today as it was then. Dr Vernon Coleman's history book is unlike any other. It covers all aspects of medicine from the very earliest days and traces developments alongside social and political changes. Dr Coleman MB ChB DSc FRSA is the international bestselling author of over 100 books. What the papers say: 'The Story of Medicine endeavours to chart the history of medicine from man's origins to the present day in 250 pages. Vernon Coleman manages to handle this project with aplomb. The book concerns itself with the...

When Robert Louis Stevenson wrote his gothic horror story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, he based the house of the genial doctor-turned-fiend on the home of John Hunter. The choice was understandable, for Hunter was both widely acclaimed and greatly feared. From humble origins, John Hunter rose...

The New York Times bestselling author of Being Mortal and Complications reveals the surprising power of the ordinary checklist We live in a world of great and increasing complexity, where even the most expert professionals struggle to master the tasks they face. Longer training, ever more...

The only thing predictable about menopause is its unpredictability. Factor in widespread misinformation, a lack of research, and the culture of shame around women's bodies, and it's no wonder women are unsure what to expect during the menopause transition and beyond. Menopause is not a disease - it's a planned change, like puberty. And just like puberty, we should be educated on what's to come years in advance, rather than the current practice of leaving people on their own with bothersome symptoms and too much conflicting information.

As an active surgeon and former department chairman, Dr. Paul A. Ruggieri has seen the good, the bad, and the ugly of his profession. In Confessions of a Surgeon, he pushes open the doors of the OR and reveals the inscrutable place where lives are improved, saved, and sometimes lost. He shares the successes, failures, remarkable advances, and camaraderie that make it exciting.

What if surgery could be performed without a scalpel? What if healing could occur without anesthesia, sutures, or even a visible incision? And what if, beneath centuries of controversy, fraud, devotion, and testimony, something still remains unexplained? Psychic Surgery: A Global History of Belief, Blood, and the Invisible Hand is the first comprehensive, historically grounded investigation of one of the most controversial healing phenomena in human history. Spanning prehistoric shamanic extraction rituals, the healing temples of Egypt and Greece, Asian traditions, medieval Christian ...

In this hypnosis program, longtime paramedic and clinical hypnotist Maggie Staiger combines calming imagery of a lakeside dawn with suggestions for healing, relaxing and remaining stable during the operation itself, and for understanding the surgery as a tool for healing rather than a traumatic event.

Pachita was one of the most mysterious healers of twentieth-century Mexico. Born Bárbara Guerrero and shaped by poverty, revolution, informal labour, family responsibility, and spiritual tradition, she became famous for healing sessions unlike anything found in an ordinary clinic. In crowded rooms and under imperfect light, she was said to enter trance, speak in the voice of El Hermanito—the spirit identified with Cuauhtémoc, the last ruler of the Mexica—and perform extraordinary operations using little more than an ordinary knife. Witnesses claimed that diseased tissue was removed, ...

Before modern surgery became a science of sterile rooms, anesthesia, and precision instruments, it was a dangerous art practiced at the edge of pain, blood, and uncertainty. In the brilliant medical world of al-Andalus, one physician helped change that forever. Abu al-Qasim al-Zahrawi, known to Latin Europe as Albucasis, was one of the most influential surgeons in history. His monumental medical encyclopedia, Al-Tasrif, transformed operative medicine by describing surgical procedures, illustrating instruments, warning against reckless practice, and teaching future physicians that surgery ...

Unsolved Medical Mysteries: Explaining the Unexplainable is your chance to explore the strangest and most confounding cases in medical history. In 12 gripping lectures, acclaimed author, historian, and medical humanities expert Dr. Brandy Schillace guides you on a fascinating journey into the unknown, from historical enigmas to modern medical conundrums. With her unique blend of storytelling and scientific insight, Dr. Schillace digs into a range of medical mysteries