Posted on 01/31/2010 7:01:48 PM PST by SunkenCiv
Early Neolithic surgeons used a sharpened flint stone and rudimentary anaesthetics to amputate the elderly man's left forearm, and treated the wound in sterile conditions, experts believe.
Evidence of the early surgery was unearthed by Cécile Buquet-Marcon and Anaick Samzun, both archaeologists, and Philippe Charlier, a forensic scientist, during work on a tomb discovered at Buthiers-Boulancourt, about 40 miles south of Paris...
Tests showed that the humerus bone had been severed above the elbow in what scientists described as "an intentional and successful amputation".
The patient, who is likely to have been a warrior, is thought likely to have damaged his arm in a fall, animal attack or battle.
Pain-killing plants such as the hallucinogenic Datura are likely to have been used in the operation, and the wound was probably cleaned using antiseptic herbs like sage, the scientists said...
Researchers have also recently reported signs of two other Neolithic amputations in Germany and the Czech Republic.
Stone Age doctors were previously known to have performed trephinations, making incisions in the skull, but not amputations.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
I thought you were referring to Doc McCoys instruments in Star Trek ,, they were futuristic salt shakers that were rejected for dining scenes because nobody would recognize them as salt shakers,, they were recycled as surgical instruments.
I never cease to be amazed when people are surprised at the fact that ancient men were just like them, wanting to save their elders and minimise pain- as if common decency was invented no more than a hundred years ago.
Talk about hubris....
I was -- those were pictures of them. The latter picture was trying to extend the joke... :)?
Clearly, not a Klingon.
Bet that was fun. < /s> (shaking head in horrified contemplation of that scene)
“An elderly warrior?
Clearly, not a Klingon. “
maybe Qagaars? Do they look like rotted chickens?
I'm thinking more along the lines of an alcoholic beverage. Like beer, the miracle drug.
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