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The Butchering Art
The Butchering Art: Joseph Lister's Quest to Transform the Grisly World of Victorian Medicine | Lindsey Fitzharris
The gripping story of how Joseph Listers antiseptic method changed medicine forever In The Butchering Art, the historian Lindsey Fitzharris reveals the shocking world of nineteenth-century surgery and shows how it was transformed by advances made in germ theory and antiseptics between 1860 and 1875. She conjures up early operating theatersno place for the squeamishand surgeons, working before anesthesia, who were lauded for their speed and brute strength. These pioneers knew that the aftermath of surgery was often more dangerous than patients afflictions, and they were baffled by the persistent infections that kept mortality rates stubbornly high. At a time when surgery couldnt have been more hazardous, an unlikely figure stepped forward: a young, melancholy Quaker surgeon named Joseph Lister, who would solve the riddle and change the course of history. Fitzharris dramatically reconstructs Listers career path to his audacious claim that germs were the source of all infection and could be countered by a sterilizing agent applied to wounds. She introduces us to Listers contemporariessome of them brilliant, some outright criminaland leads us through the grimy schools and squalid hospitals where they learned their art, the dead houses where they studied, and the cemeteries they ransacked for cadavers. Eerie and illuminating, The Butchering Art celebrates the triumph of a visionary surgeon whose quest to unite science and medicine delivered us into the modern world.
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kellyhogaboom

A fascinating book and one that is helping me feel more peace and healing over recent medical trauma.

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julesG
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Andrew65 Looks good. 2y
melissanorr I enjoyed that one! 2y
Crazeedi I really enjoyed this one too! 2y
Suet624 This looks fascinating! 2y
55 likes1 stack add4 comments
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Ekkross
Pickpick

Absolutely fascinating. Both the man (Joseph Lister) and the writing are brilliant and clever. Dr. Fitzharris writes like she were there, with all the gore and gross detail to really undermine just how f@cked surgery was drying the 1800‘s.
Lister saved us all.

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julesG
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Pickpick

This was really good.

Well-researched. Right amount of gory details.

Not for the faint of heart. 😉

Erinsuereads I lovvvvve this book 3y
62 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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PezFilledCookies
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“His most famous mishap involved an operation during which he worked so rapidly that he took off three of his assistant‘s fingers and, while switching blades, slashed a spectators coat. Both the assistant and the patient died later of gangrene, and the unfortunate bystander expired on the spot from fright. It is the only surgery in history said to have had a 300% fatality rate.”
#CurrentlyReading #Nonfiction #Medicine

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TorieStorieS
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Pickpick

Though I don‘t have a physical cover, this audiobook is my #MustacheOnTheCover for #Booked2021! This look into the impact of Joseph Lister and his antiseptic protocols is surprisingly fascinating- though not recommended for the squeamish! The state of living and medicine before is as horrific as one would imagine and though there are hiccups along the way, it makes for an engaging and informative listen! #AudioColoring

BarbaraTheBibliophage I thought this was a fascinating book! 👍🏻 📚 3y
Cinfhen I‘ve heard wonderful things about this book...glad to hear audio is engaging 3y
TorieStorieS @Cinfhen I definitely recommend it! 3y
45 likes4 comments
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veritysalter
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Pickpick

An interesting read of the career of Joseph Lister, his advancement of germ theory and his quest for antiseptic surgery. When he bean his career, surgeons wore bloodied aprons, there was sawdust on the floor and speed was king; mortality rates were high and infection rampant. Lister found that those patients whose wounds were treated with carbolic acid and kept in clean rooms had a far higher chance of survival. #NFN2020 #Book

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veritysalter
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JacqMac
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Hubby‘s #bookmail
I might have to borrow this one....

readordierachel I liked this one! Very informative. 3y
JacqMac @readordierachel Good to know. It sounds very interesting. 3y
42 likes1 stack add2 comments
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coffees
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Found this book at work while shifting books and just, I wanna read it!! Maybe later 👀 #nonfiction

veritysalter Lindsay Fitzharris has a fun YouTube series on medical history, only around six episodes though. 4y
coffees @veritysalter ohohohoho well I know what I'll be checking out later this evening 😀😀😀 thanks! 4y
12 likes2 comments
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Literatigeek
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Global pandemic happening? Read about Victorian era surgeons! - my brain apparently.

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brilliantglow
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Next up! Seems interesting. Kind of reminds me The Knick

readordierachel This was really interesting! 4y
51 likes1 comment
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PickwickPlockPlock
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Pickpick

This was a #blameitonlitsy read. For months I waited to find it at the library and it was worth it. The German title translates as The horror of early medicine, and it was indeed a horror for patients and doctors, until anesthesia was invented and Joseph Lister took up the fight against infections. One caveat: you should have a strong stomach for the book.

readordierachel It's wild to think about how far we've come since then. This was a fascinating read. 4y
PickwickPlockPlock @readordierachel I knew that the times were bad for patients, but I had no idea that the medicine students suffered and were traumatised, too. 4y
37 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Ericalambbrown
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Today‘s #chillingphotochallenge prompt is #gory . Well, this book certainly fits. This book is about a renowned Edinburgh surgeon, Joseph Lister, who pioneered antiseptic techniques. He was the first to say, “umm, guys, what if we wash our hands BEFORE surgery and not just after?” Seriously though, Victorian surgery was brutal. As a microbiology major, Lister is a hero of mine. Naming Listerine for him isn‘t enough to honor him. #teamstoker

BeansPage 🧟‍♀️ 4y
ElizaMarie Have you read it? Would you recommend it. I‘m a nurse (it helps with wether you‘d recommend it or not) 4y
Ericalambbrown @ElizaMarie yes! I would absolutely recommend it. It‘s a nonfiction book and tells the story of Lister‘s quest to have what we would now call germ theory recognized as a viable cause of disease. It‘s a really interesting historical view of how surgery was handled at that time., 4y
ElizaMarie Thank you! I had seen it at the bookstore and I had considered it but didn‘t pull the trigger. I‘ll pick it up next time I see it 4y
Ericalambbrown @ElizaMarie The author's website is pretty great if you'd like to get a feel for her style before you commit. Her blog is called The Chirurgeon's Apprentice. Her FB and Instagram are super interesting, whether or not you get the book, but they are a little gory and she pulls no punches about the brutality of medical history. Here's the link to her blog: https://www.drlindseyfitzharris.com/blog-2/ (edited) 4y
60 likes2 stack adds5 comments
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Dazen
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Pickpick

Wirklich ein gutes Buch.

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thereadingowlvina
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Pickpick

This is a well-written & well-researched book about Joseph Lister and the history of surgery. Lots of historical facts and gory details. Great read!

Rating: 5⭐

For my full review please visit https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2984643552

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Brie
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Pickpick

This was a fascinating book of early medical history during the Victorian era, combined with a biography of the health crusader Joseph Lister. Wash your hands everyone!

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Crazeedi
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Pickpick

3.5 ⭐ This is the story of Joseph Listers quest to make surgery safer. A fascinating look at the 1800s medical field. I was appalled to think surgeons reused instruments and were proud of the bloody aprons they wore. Aseptic practice has come a LONG WAY!!!!

Freespirit As a nurse this one interests me! 5y
Crazeedi @Freespirit I worked in the medical field in my career, and as a nurse you would definitely like, and it is just nuts how the surgeons worked in such unsanitary conditions, and didn't believe Lister and Pasteur when they discovered germs and how infection begins, etc. fascinating stuff, people died from post op rather than surgery !! 5y
Freespirit I have just watched a great Netflix series based in a German hospital during WW11. It's based on real events and characters and if you have a medical background I think you'd enjoy it @Crazeedi It's called Charite at War. The hospital still operates today 😊 5y
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Crazeedi @Freespirit thank you for thinking of me! It sounds like something I'd enjoy, if I ever subscribe to netflix! I love books etc about medicine. Have you read this one? 5y
Crazeedi @Freespirit or this one? 2 recent books I've read this one is set in Pittsburgh, the city closest to where I live 5y
Freespirit Thank you @Crazeedi I will look into them! 5y
Crazeedi @Freespirit and if you know of any in the same vein you've enjoyed let me know too!! Thanks!! 5y
Freespirit Will do @Crazeedi 👍🏻 5y
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Lexeegee
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Pickpick

How far we have come in medicine. Thank God for men like Joseph Lister who are willing to look beyond the accepted and find the unexpected.

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Lexeegee
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The nurse in me cringes at so much in this book. We have come a long way.

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readordierachel
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Pickpick

The bits about medical procedures & treatments were fascinating (& alarming). Doctors were doing some pretty grisly, backward stuff, essentially groping along in the dark trying to save lives and ending many in the process (although infection would probably have done the job anyway). Joseph Lister is one who shined a light & helped lay the foundation for modern medicine. 👇🏼

readordierachel We've come a long way, & it makes me wonder how far we'll go in the future, what else we'll discover.

While the parts about the science & medicine were engaging, I found some of the biography of Lister himself & the descriptions of hospital politics tedious.
5y
Megabooks I have had this on audio for awhile. I should remember to read it. Thanks!! 5y
Crazeedi It's crazy what medicine was way back when 5y
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Cathythoughts It‘s awful to think of the pain people were in .... for what now is a more simple procedure. My one wish is for all dental treatments to be laser jobs .... I‘m terrified of the dentist 5y
readordierachel @Megabooks the narrator is good. Enjoy! 5y
readordierachel @Crazeedi It really is. I'm very thankful for modern medicine. 5y
readordierachel @Cathythoughts Yes, it's heartbreaking to think of all the pain and lives lost. And I'm with you 100% about the dentist. I had a root canal last month and it was...unpleasant. Although I shudder to think what it would have been like in Victorian times! 5y
Crazeedi I'll have to look for the audio of this! 5y
Crazeedi Just borrowed the ebook! 5y
readordierachel @Crazeedi cool! Enjoy! 5y
Crazeedi @readordierachel I'm sure I will 5y
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Lexeegee
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This made me giggle. 🤭

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Lexeegee
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I love medical history!

Bookish_B I have this on my TBR shelf! I love this stuff too 😳 5y
DeeLew I‘m putting this on my TBR even though I may not have the stomach for it. 😳 It sounds soooo interesting though! 5y
Minimalgrl I loved this book and recommend The Remedy by Thomas Goetz ... having to do with tuberculosis in the 19th century 🤓📚😷 5y
Lexeegee Thanks for the recommendation @minimalgirl. 5y
scowler1 Brilliant book! 5y
29 likes2 stack adds5 comments
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readordierachel
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"His left arm was reportedly so strong that he could use it as a tourniquet while wielding the knife in his right hand. This was a feat that required immense strength and dexterity...Liston could remove a leg in less than 30 seconds...in order to keep hands free, he often clasped the bloody knife between his teeth while working. Liston's speed was both a gift and a curse. Once he accidentally sliced off a patient's testicle along with the leg."

DivineDiana I think I‘m a little too squeamish for this one! 5y
readordierachel @DivineDiana It's pretty intense! It makes me very thankful for modern medicine. 5y
vivastory "..he often clasped the bloody knife between his teeth" This makes my inner germaphobe vomit a little 5y
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BiblioLitten @readordierachel Me too! I read some crazy stuff here, and am glad that i live in the present. 5y
readordierachel @vivastory Right? There was a note before on how surgeons rarely washed their aprons and had what was referred to as that "good old hospital stink" 5y
readordierachel @BiblioLitten It's remarkable how far we've come. That book sounds fascinating! 5y
batsy Oh lord 😰 5y
RohitSawant What @vivastory said 😵 5y
Reggie Yowza!!! Well we all have to start somewhere right? Even surgery. 5y
readordierachel @batsy @rohit-sawant I know! This whole book is disturbing (ie, kinda gross) and fascinating. Like @Reggie says, we had to start somewhere. Makes me wonder where we'll be in another 50-100 years! 5y
Suet624 Yikes! 5y
readordierachel @RaimeyGallant @Suet624 I know! Surgery was not for the faint of heart. 5y
70 likes1 stack add13 comments
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readordierachel
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Did some #audiobaking tonight. Vegan carrot cake with vegan cream cheese frosting. Turned out pretty well! I think it looks like Pac-Man with the piece missing. Just started the tagged book and it's fascinating (and somewhat alarming) so far 👍🏼

CoffeeAndABook Yumm 😃🍰🍴 5y
vivastory The book has been on my TBR. Glad to hear it's interesting. The cake looks delicious! 5y
RvnclawWhovian I love carrot cake 🤤 5y
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Reggie That sounds and looks delicious!!😋 5y
RohitSawant Looks so yum! 😋 5y
batsy Mmm! Looks delish! 5y
DivineDiana It does look like Pac Man! 😀 5y
ladym30 That looks amazing 🤩! 5y
readordierachel @CoffeeAndABook @vivastory @RvnclawWhovian @Reggie @rohit-sawant @batsy @DivineDiana @ladym30 Thanks, friends! It was one of my better baking ventures 😊 5y
Lindy Is the cake recipe from a cookbook, the Internet, or your own creation? Looks wonderful! 5y
readordierachel @Lindy I used this recipe (although I used a different, easier frosting recipe from Minimalist Baker): http://www.picklesnhoney.com/hippie-vegan-carrot-cake-simple-recipes-for-joy-giv... 5y
readordierachel @Lindy It was yummy 😊 5y
Lindy @readordierachel Thanks for the recipe link. I haven‘t made carrot cake in a long time and now I really want some! 5y
72 likes13 comments
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SassenachTheBookWizard
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Pickpick

Okay this had the potential to be dreadfully dull but it ended being insanely interesting. The author made it more of a narration of the Doctor and his colleagues lives rather than just bullet points and use of very scientific language. Also, I will never be afraid of my own doctors now. The absolute lack of basic hand washing! Ugh *shivers grossed out*

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SassenachTheBookWizard
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This month's non-fiction!

Crazeedi Looks like a good book! 5y
82 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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dylanisreading
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Fun times.

#history

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Minimalgrl
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#24in48 @24in48 ..... my weekend !!!! #readathon 🤓📚🥰

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Minimalgrl
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Ok here is the plan for #24in48 this weekend!! Get these two going !!!!!🥳🥳🥳#24in48readathon

readingjedi Wow! I love that typewriter! 5y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Love your typewriter!!! ❤️ 5y
mreads That owl is so pretty ❤ 5y
Sarah83 Love your typewriter 😍 5y
63 likes4 comments
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Minimalgrl
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Just finished The Library Book (amazing) Now moving on to this to satisfy my interest in medical history! #nonfiction

readinginthedark I'm both fascinated and afraid to read this! 🙈 5y
RainyDayReading I really enjoyed this one when I read it! There are some parts though that are definitely not for the weak stomached. 5y
53 likes2 comments
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scientist_reading
This post contains spoilers
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What a wonderful story to accompany my breakfast 🤣

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JPeterson
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2018 was a fantastic reading year! It was hard, but I managed to pull together my top 10 for this year.

Here‘s to even more 5⭐️ reads in 2019!

JPeterson @cathysaid Yes! I think it is one of the best mystery/thrillers I‘ve read in a long time. I just loved this African setting and historical elements in it. 5y
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Hforrester12
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Going in blind but I love everything medicine!!!

Bookworm47 Hope you enjoy it. 😊 5y
10 likes1 comment
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Moray_Reads
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Pickpick

An excellent overview of Joseph Lister's groundbreaking career. Fitzsimmons had a great eye for the morbid humour essential to medical history and the episodes that bring her subjects to life. Grisly, detailed and well-balanced. Also the first book that ever made me think "I recognise that tumour!" (I used to work at Surgeons' Hall Museums RCSEd). Fascinating but perhaps not for the faint-of-stomach!

Cathythoughts Great review! Sounds interesting..... 5y
ralexist I read this via audiobook and loved it. Totally agree that it's not for the squeamish 😉 5y
44 likes1 stack add2 comments
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PunksteR
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Trying to get back in to the habbit of reading with this random airport purchase. Hope this semi accurate scientific snuff will do the trick.

Texreader Yikes!! 5y
25 likes1 comment
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scowler1
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Pickpick

What a great story, you'll need a strong stomach though - some passages had me wincing with imagined pain. We are truly lucky to live in this age of medicine, if we can afford it of course. There are a lot of famous characters among these pages and some very witty, though gory writing.

Ericalambbrown I really liked this one. It was the first book I posted to Litsy. 5y
5 likes1 comment
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scowler1
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Two from the library today, coincidence?

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JPeterson
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#BlackCatChallenge: Gory

Nothing says gory like a Victorian surgery theater. ☠️

IamIamIam I follow her IG account! She's always posting cool factoids!!! 5y
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RainyDayReading
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Forgot to post this yesterday before I fell asleep 😅 #blackcatchallenge day 2. This book is definitely #bloodcurdling and not for the faint of heart when it comes to the descriptions. So of course I thoroughly enjoyed it. Fascinating and macabre this book made me sooo happy to have been born in this era rather than the Victorian one. @Clwojick

Bklover Listerine!! 5y
28 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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JPeterson
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Oh, hello pretty #bookmail. I have an idea of what my weekend is going to look like. 💀🖤🔪💉

catiewithac I loved this book! 🔪 6y
BarbaraTheBibliophage This was a good one! 😷 6y
JPeterson @catiewithac @BarbaraTheBibliophage It was great! I basically devoured it yesterday! 🖤 6y
Lauren_reading My brother just recommended this one to me! 6y
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MStew
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This book sounds INSANE! I can't wait to read it , I love anatomy and medical books so anything dealing with that intrigues me. This is about how surgery was in the nineteenth century and how much has change, and I'm sure it was very gruesome back then!! #horror #book #nonfiction #booknerd #medical

Velvetfur That sounds fab! Have you read 'Past Mortems' by Carla Valentine? I haven't, but want to 😊 6y
JennyM Messy business, for sure 😊 6y
TheNeverendingTBR That's some grim shit 😂😘 6y
MStew @trioxin_sematary i know i loves it!!🤓🤓😗 6y
MStew @Velvetfur I'm gonna look that up 6y
100 likes7 stack adds5 comments
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Sarrie
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As a pregnant woman. No, thank you. I'm pleased we've grown from here. 😖

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Sarrie
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Why read horror novels when you can read medical history books?

4 likes1 comment
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nikirtehsuxlol
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Internal Medicine gets its name from the time where surgeons operated more on the periphery of the body (amputations, tumor removals), because heart, abdomen, etc (the “internal” parts) were so dangerous at the time. Also prob not the best book to read before I gotta get surgery ☠️

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Lkbbooks
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A biography of Joseph Lister, who pioneered antiseptic surgery. “Lister‘s methods transformed surgery from a butchering art to a modern science, one where newly tried and tested methodologies trumped hackneyed practices. They opened up new frontiers in medicine —-allowing us to delve further into the living body—-and in the process they saved hundreds of thousands of lives.”

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ElectricKatyLand
Pickpick

Engrossing medical history and biography of Joseph Lister, the surgeon who brought germ theory into the medical mainstream.

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RainyDayReading
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Boy if the “Age of Agony” doesnt perfectly sum up this book so far I don‘t know what would. Makes me glad for today‘s advances in modern medicine. I‘m hoping to knock this out tonight (since it‘s due back tomorrow 🙈) and then return to my #freakyfriday reads!

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HollyB3
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Bailedbailed

Ah, I kind of hate to bail on this one, I‘ve enjoyed what I‘ve read, but I haven‘t touched it in days and I‘m not clamoring to read it. I may go back to it at some point, but I think I need to put it down for now.