Operations that made history1996

A notable surgeon and charismatic teacher himself, Professor Ellis has brought together in Operations that made History a fascinating collection of renowned surgical procedures, each one illustrating a different aspect of the history of surgery. The first section of the book looks at examples of surgical procedures which have made a major contribution to the history of surgery, such as the first successful gastrectomy, performed in Vienna over a hundred years ago by Theodor Billroth. Some operations, whilst in themselves minor procedures, have nevertheless had a massive impact on the history of surgery. These are grouped together in the second section. For example, in 1846, during a trivial operation to remove a superficial benign tumour, instead of suffering the routine agonies of the knife, the patient remained blissfully oblivious throughout. This was thanks to William Morton's application of the first anaesthetic to be delivered in a surgical operation. In the final part of the book, Professor Ellis focuses on the famous patient, such as Nelson and George IV. Here, the tact and ingenuity of the surgeon, and the remarkable resilience and eccentricities of the patient are insightfully recounted, highlighting both the amusing and the serious side of the surgeon's relationship to a famous patient.