High Death Rate in Nineteenth Century Operations

High Death Rate in Nineteenth Century Operations

In the early 19th century the amount of operations carried out each

week was a very small amount when compared to today’s figures. There

were many reasons for this, but one was the patients attitudes towards

allowing themselves have an operation. It was well known at this time

the conditions of hospitals. They were very unsanitary and the

majority of people did not come out alive. Before 1847, patients that

underwent an operation in hospital did so as a last resort. There

chances of survival were minimal. This was common knowledge and

because of this many people did not want to go to hospital to receive

the treatment they needed. An operation in the 19th century usually

consisted of an amputation of a limb or the removal of bladder stones.

During the operations the patient would be able to feel the doctor

cutting into there skin and the pain would be immense. At this time

there were few antiseptics and usually the only form of pain relief

was to drink yourself silly with alcohol, in the hope that you would

pass out and numb the pain of the operation. This would never

completely dull the pain and the operation would be excruciation for

the patient during and after. The patents had to be restrained during

the operation as they could move and cause the doctor to make a

mistake and cause a fatal injury. The rich would not visit hospitals

because of the infection that could be caught. They knew that the

hospitals were unsanitary and if an operation was needed, it was

usually performed at home in the kitchen or bedroom. This was seen as

a cleaner and safer option than going to the filthy hospitals. Because

the rich did not use the hospitals, they would still pay to use them

but give there places to the poor, a worker or maid. This was seen as

good gesture towards them, but going to a hospital in the 19th century

was not as sensible as many infections could be caught and death was