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Stories

  • In pictures

The original drama of operating theatres

Medicine as ‘theatre’ began in the 16th century, when paying audiences enjoyed candlelight, live music – and a cadaver being dissected in front of them, all the in name of education.

  • Article

The mystery of the malignant brain

In 1884 a neurologist successfully used a patient’s symptoms, plus a new kind of map, to locate a brain tumour. Discover how his best-laid plans for treatment worked out.

  • Article

The blight of the ballooning blood vessels

In 1817 an emergency operation on a London porter was hailed a ‘success’ despite the patient’s swift demise. Find out how this case became a landmark in vascular surgery.

  • In pictures

How chloroform shaped the murder mystery

Find out how a sweet-smelling liquid anaesthetic captured the public’s imagination and changed pop culture for ever.

All stories (94)

Images

  • Operations performed without anaesthetic, 1598.
  • Handbuch der allgemeinen Operations.... Fischer, 1880
  • page 111 "Illustrations of the Great Operations of Surgery", 1820
  • pls viii "Illustrations of the Great Operations of Surgery", 1820
  • page 2 "Illustrations of the Great Operations of Surgery", 1820
  • page 132 "Illustrations of the Great Operations of Surgery", 1820
  • page 1 "Illustrations of the Great Operations of Surgery", 1820
  • page 3 "Illustrations of the Great Operations of Surgery", 1820
  • pls vii "Illustrations of the Great Operations of Surgery", 1820
  • plate xx "Illustrations of the Great Operations of Surgery", 1820
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