You may think going in to the hospital for surgery is scary, but just be glad your doctor isn’t coming near you with these tools that surgeons in the past used on their patients. Between the 1500′s and 1800′s cleanroom clothing and sterilized instruments of any kind were not used. If that’s not scary enough, these instruments sound like they should have come out of a horror movie, not an operating table.
1. Amputation Knife – This long, curved knife was used in the 1700′s to cut through the patient’s skin and muscle, before using a saw to cut through the bone. In the 1800′s a straight knife took it’s place because it left a flap of skin that could be used to cover the stump.
2. Amputation Saw – This saw with it’s intricate designs, was used by the wealthier doctors, who wanted to flaunt their riches to the world. It turned out that the designs themselves were harboring tons of germs that could be transferred to the patient.
3. Bullet Extractor – This long nail like tool was used in the 1500′s to extract bullets that were lodged deep within the patient’s body. The screw on the tip would pierce the bullet and pull it out.
4. Artificial Leech – In the 1800′s using leeches to suck a patient’s blood was very common for many ailments. In 1840 the artificial leech was made. It had rotating blades that would rip through the patient’s skin and a vacuum to suck out blood. This tool was commonly used in eye and ear surgeries.
5. Cervical Dilator – Labor is a slow and painful process, but in the 1800′s this tool made it even more painful. With handles on one end, the surgeon could decide how far to stretch the women’s cervix by how far he pulled the handles apart. It was eventually banned because it often caused the cervix to tear.
6. Lithotome – Used in the 1740′s to 1830′s this tool was used to cut open the patient’s bladder to remove stones. The spring loaded tool had a hidden blade inside that was released into the bladder, cutting it open and releasing the stones.