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Medical Procedure

Without the pain killing effect of 'anaesthesia' very few medical procedures would be taking place today.

 

In past history physical methods like compression of blood vessels or the nerves by means of clamps applied over the limbs were used to numb the area; however, that was just short of torture.

 

In Ancient Cultures:

The Chinese used cannabis.

The Greek used herbs like hemp.

The Romans used the extract of the mandragora plant to alleviate pain.

And the ancient Egyptians used poppy seeds (from which opium is derived) during their simple operating procedures.

 

fun fact: 'refrigeration anaesthesia' meant using cold water or snow to numb the region which gave rise to hypnosis to render the patient unconscious as a means of anaesthetizing someone are all in a way similarly artificially induced today.

 

 

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Uploaded on April 22, 2009
Taken on April 21, 2009