Surgery of the Past: Trepanning

Surgery of the Past: Trepanning

Some of the earliest examples of surgery come from ancient Egypt, with documents and skeletal remains showing evidence of dentistry. Sushruta Samhita is an ancient Sanskrit text by Sushruta, an Indian surgeon and physician working in the 6th Century BCE, known as the 'Father of Surgery'. His book describes preventative measures, diagnosis and treatment of various ailments, including essential and cosmetic surgeries.

Surgery in ancient times

Some of the earliest examples of surgery come from ancient Egypt, with documents and skeletal remains showing evidence of dentistry. Sushruta Samhita is an ancient Sanskrit text by Sushruta, an Indian surgeon and physician working in the 6th Century BCE, known as the 'Father of Surgery'. His book describes preventative measures, diagnosis and treatment of various ailments, including essential and cosmetic surgeries.

Have you heard of trepanning?

Trepanation is a surgery performed on the skull where a hole is scraped or bored into the bone. The practice of trepanning stretches back to Neolithic times.
Cave paintings and human remains suggest that this was an early form of surgery to treat head wounds. Experts theorise that trepanning was also used to treat epilepsy, headaches and mental disorders as well for mystic and ritual purposes. There is evidence of this taking place in Europe, Siberia, China and the Americas.

 Trepanning illustration

Interested in learning more?

Get Surgery & Medicine in paperback or eBookSurgery & Medicine by Vault Editions is a brilliantly curated resource that will provide you with precisely that. This book features a fascinating curated collection of 17th and 18th-century engravings, etchings and lithographs exploring dentistry, eye surgery, amputation, rhinoplasty, prosthetics, bandages and dressing, childbirth, surgical tools and much more.

Warning:

This book contains highly graphic images. If you are not comfortable with surgery being performed on the human body, this may not be the book for you. However, if you're interested in accessing a treasury of bizarre imagery that documents the amazing progression that lead to modern medicine as we know it, keep reading.

Download Included:

Each book comes with a unique download link providing instant access to high-resolution files of the hundreds of images featured. These images can be used in art and design projects, or printed and framed to make stunning decorative artworks for your home and office.

 Surgery and Medicine book

 

Monsters and Beasts

Interested in learning more? Get Monsters & Beastsvia paperback and eBook. This title features hundreds of exquisitely crafted 17th and 18th-century etchings and engravings of monsters and beasts. This pictorial archive features serpents, animal mutations, sea monsters, dragons, griffins, chimeras, bizarre human mutations and abnormalities, extraordinary fanciful animals and much more.

Image Download Included: Each book comes with a download link providing instant access to high-resolution files of all images featured. These images can be used in art and graphic design projects, or printed and framed to make stunning decorative artworks. This book is ideal for graphic designers, illustrators, tattooists and fine artists.