What were the problems facing Surgery in 1850?

From prehistoric times to 1800 surgery has made very little progress. Simple surgery only was performed and hardly any internal surgery was performed. Any surgery that had to be performed during this period had to be done quickly as there were no effective anaesthetics. There were many problems associated with surgery in 1800.

The patients would have been in absolute agony with no anaesthetics.

Problem of pain. The patient has been given no anaesthetic.

Problem of infection. The operating theatre has not been cleaned.

Surgical tools would not be cleaned between operations.

There were still many back street surgeons that were not qualified.

The focus was on 'speed' rather than skill. Surgeons feared the patients would die of shock.

Surgeons/assistants would not have washed their hands between operations.

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