Analysis: rise of surgery profession

Published on 15/07/2012 00:00

Ever since humans learned to make tools, surgical techniques have been used, but it was not until the industrial revolution that people were able to train as surgeons in order to control pain, bleeding and infection in patients.

In earlier centuries, surgery was mostly associated with barber-surgeons who cut hair and also used their skills and cutting tools to undertake surgical procedures. Evidence of their existence dates back to 1540 when King Henry VIII formed the Company of Barber-Surgeons to enable barbers to carry out medical tasks by creating an act of parliament.

The 18th century saw a rise in private anatomy schools across Europe and the profession was very much centred around studying rather than operating.

It was not until the early 19th century that surgeons, as we know them now, started to work. Many barber-surgeons and academics were forced to work as battlefield doctors in the Napoleonic Wars. Their main job was to carry out amputations on injured soldiers and they were soon recruited to work on navy ships. Only later, as new techniques and equipment emerged, did the professions of barber and surgeon diverge, with surgeons starting to undertake lengthy training to perform medical operations.