Blood and Guts Read Online Free PDF Page B

growths, and even reconstructive
surgery (see page 217), was a hallmark of his work. Sometimes,
though, his arrogance would get the better of him. (Indeed, the arrogance
of surgeons is a theme throughout the history of surgery.)
    Jealous rivals would whisper that Liston was so quick that he
once accidentally amputated the penis of an amputee. On another
occasion he was asked to look at a young boy with a swelling on his
neck. A junior surgeon was convinced that the tumour was
connected to the main artery in the neck – the carotid. 'Pooh!' said
Liston as he drove a knife into the tumour. Unfortunately, the junior
surgeon was right. The boy died within minutes.
    However, the most worrying incident for his students occurred
during an amputation when Liston accidentally amputated an assistant's
fingers. The outcome of this operation was horrific: the
patient died of infection, as did the assistant, and an observer died
of shock. It was the only operation in surgical history with a 300 per
cent mortality rate.
    Liston's operations were messy, bloody and traumatic but,
despite the occasional setback, he was one of the best surgeons of
the day. His patients suffered terribly, but a fair proportion of them
came out of hospital alive. This eminent surgeon owed his relative
success to two thousand years of surgical development. A tortuous
history involving dismembered criminals, wounded soldiers and
Roman celebrities.
INSIDE THE BODY
    Pergamum, Roman province of Asia Minor (Western Turkey), AD157
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    The gladiatorial display was the zenith of Roman entertainment, a
glamorous spectacle of skill, excitement and bloodshed. The day of
the contest was one of celebration, and the amphitheatre was
packed with expectant crowds ready to be entertained.
    The day started with a display of exotic creatures gathered
from the far reaches of the empire – leopards, wild horses and an
angry bear. The animals were goaded in mock hunting demonstrations.
A few were killed, but others were saved and employed as
executioners to tear apart local criminals who were tied to stakes in
front of the baying crowd. As the gladiators entered the ring, they
waved to acknowledge the screams of the spectators, who idolized
them as celebrities, their beautifully toned bodies admired by men
and adored by women.
    The gladiators fought in pairs – a warrior in heavy armour
pitched against a nimble opponent with a net and trident; a fighter
with swords against one with spears and daggers. Although the event
was staged, the brutality of the fighting was terrifyingly – and
thrillingly – real. The men fought to injure, to wound, to win. They
were taught to aim for the arteries of the neck, and behind
the knee. It was a fight to the death, but they shouldn't kill. The
choice of whether a gladiator would live or die was the prerogative
of the sponsor. He alone could decide whether the victor should
deliver a final, fatal blow. The sponsor could not afford to allow
too many gladiators to die – it would be like killing half the cast
of actors after each performance of a play – as he would have to
buy replacements.
    Within the hierarchy of Roman society, gladiators were near the
bottom of the heap. They were slaves and members of what was
considered a disreputable profession. This was a standing they
shared with prostitutes and, of course, actors. But despite their lack
of freedom and their apparently low status, gladiators were rightly
treated as the elite sportsmen they were. Their rigorous training
was complemented by a high-energy diet and the very best medical
treatment. The post of physician to the gladiators in Pergamum,
or any major city of the empire, was a prestigious one. Celebrity
gladiators required their own celebrity surgeon. This was the perfect
position for a showman such as the ambitious Claudius Galen. *
    * No one seems to know for sure what Galen's first name was. 'Claudius' is used in many references, but some historians suggest it was more likely