Even people who have never had surgery have an idea (from TV shows) how it's done: clean gowns, face masks, sterile tools. NONE of those things were part of surgery in the early 19th century.
One American doctor led the way: Thomas Dent Mütter.
His surgical breakthroughs--including little details like anesthesia--are catalogued in the book Dr. Mütter’s Marvels: A True Tale of Intrigue and Innovation at the Dawn of Modern Medicine, now in paperback. Author Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz joins us for a perusal of the surgeon's short but highly influential life.
