BPoD has moved!

BPoD has recently changed our domain name - we can now be found at bpod.org.uk

Please update your bookmarks!

Now in our 13th year of bringing you beautiful imagery from biomedical science every day

Search the archive of over 4000 images

Historical Week In the Flesh
08 August 2013

In the Flesh

These surgical instruments were designed to drill, prise, pull and cut into 16th and 17th century patients. Pictured at the top left, a lithotomy dilator could be inserted into a patient’s abdomen, opening up tubes so that kidney and gall stones could be removed. The double bladed bistoury (top right) is a surgical knife similar in use to a modern scalpel. Surrounding the trepanning drill (middle left) are three sets of forceps – to remove teeth (left two) or arrow heads (right) – together with a needle-like bullet extractor. The heavy duty surgical saw at the bottom was primarily used for amputations. Widespread use of antiseptics and anaesthesia in later years allowed surgeons to delve further inside the body, developing more precise instruments. Arrow head extraction may not be called for quite so often any more, but modern surgery is still a matter of deciding on the best tool for the job.

Written by John Ankers

Search The Archive

Submit An Image

Follow on Tumblr

Follow on Instagram

What is BPoD?

BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

Read More

BPoD is also available in Catalan at www.bpod.cat with translations by the University of Valencia.