The Butchering Art

In The Butchering Art, historian Lindsey Fitzharris explores the shocking realities of 19th-century surgery, a time marked by perilous procedures and high mortality rates due to untreated infections. She recounts the transformative journey of Joseph Lister, a young Quaker surgeon who boldly proposed that germs caused infections and could be combated through antiseptics. Set against the backdrop of grim medical practices from 1850 to 1875, this engaging narrative reveals the pioneering figures of early surgery and highlights Lister's groundbreaking contributions that ushered in modern medicine.