by Jeffrey Ware

Created on: November 27, 2008

The earliest finding of surgery was discovered in Keiv, Ukraine. A scull dating back to 7300 6220 B. C. was found to have holes drilled into the skull bone. This procedure called trephining was common in the early days to relieve health problems related to increases pressure on the brain. Another skull discover in Egypt revealed two holes drilled in to the mandible just below the molar. This is an indication of drainage of an abscess from an infected tooth. The earliest documentation of surgery appeared in 1600 B. C. The Edwin Smith papyrus is believed to be the first surgical textbook. This Egyptian text contained information on surgical procedures that date back to 3000 B. C.

Until the 16th century surgical procedures was mainly limited to trephining and amputations performed by trained surgeons who were also many times the town barber as well. Surgeons of that time were not trained in medical schools and were not considered doctors of medicine. The art of surgery was learned through mentoring and apprenticeship of another surgeon. Many of these surgeons began as surgical assistants while learning from their mentor. Famed surgeon Denton Cooley assisted Dr. Alfred Blalock in the first "blue baby operation" to correct a heart defect. Surgeons today are still trained in this manner through resident and fellowship programs beginning as an assistant to the attending or advanced residents or fellows.

Surgery as a science began at the time of Andreas Versalius in 1537 when he changed the way surgeons were educated in the human anatomy. At the age of 23, Versalius filled the new position of lecturer in surgery and human anatomy. There he became the first to study anatomy by dissecting human bodies instead of animals such as apes. Historically all human dissection during this period was performed by a surgical assistant while the surgeon stood up on a pedestal and observed. The surgical assistant would dissect a particular anatomical structure or organ and present it to the surgeon for study and lecture about it. Andreas Versalius changed the way to study anatomy and practice surgical techniques by performing human dissections himself. He was also noted for his anatomy illustrations based on human dissection that he used for visual aids when lecturing and teaching.

During the Civil War surgical were in great demand. They provided all types of services ranging from manning a bandage station just outside musket ball range on the battlefield to operating rooms at major

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