Legends of Surgery

Mar 16 2025 100 ep. 22 mins 2.2k
Legends of Surgery Podcast artwork

This podcast takes an entertaining and informative approach to telling the stories of the people and events that make up the history of modern surgery.

  Health & Fitness
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Episode 114 - "Troubled Masterpiece": The Controversial Pernkopf Atlas

Mar 16 2025 27 mins  
In this episode, we'll explore the history of the Pernkopf Atlas, an anatomy text used by surgeons and pathologists worldwide, as well as the life of it's creator, Eduard Pernkopf. He was a professor at the University of Vienna and avowed Nazi, and this link has made the use of his atlas controversial. We'll consider it's value to the medical world, and the ethics of it's use, both

Episode 113 - Better know an instrument: Potts Scissors

Feb 26 2024 21 mins  
In this episode, we'll meet the person behind the eponymously named scissors, the American pediatric surgeon Willis J. Potts. We'll cover his contributions to the development of surgery specifically for children, and in particular the operations on the heart that he pioneered. There is also some trivia, and a new feature on etymology, so enjoy!

Episode 112 - The Ongoing History of Surgery: The World's First Whole Eye Transplant

Dec 11 2023 16 mins  
In this episode, we will cover the recent story of (possibly) the world's first whole eye transplant that occured in May of 2023, as well as the story of a possible previous attempt in 1969, and the aftermath that followed. The show also has a new feature - trivia! And, we will explore the medical origins of the word 'bedlam'. Enjoy!

Episode 111 - The Code of Hammurabi

Nov 14 2023 16 mins  
In this episode, we will explore the history of a nearly 4 millenia old slab of rock which has inscribed on it some of the oldest recorded laws in history, including some that dictated payments for operations, and some severe punishments for malpractice! Along the way, we'll also delve into the world of Babylonian medicine, discover the history of the caduceus, and, as a special bo

Episode 110 - The Loch Ness Monster and The Surgeon's Photo

Feb 02 2023 16 mins  
In this episode, we will explore the legend of the Loch Ness Monster, as well as the surgeon behind a famous photograph of the beast, Robert Kenneth Wilson, a legend in his own right. And of course, we'll go on our usual tangents and side stories along the way!

Episode 109 - Was Jack the Ripper a surgeon?

Dec 29 2022 16 mins  
In this episode, we will explore the question of the identity of the 19th century serial killer based in the London neighborhood of Whitechapel. Specifically, we will consider the evidence provided by some authors that the notorious killer was a Welsh-born surgeon named Sir John Williams. And of course, there will be a bit of interesting trivia along the way!

Episode 108 - The Michelangelo of Medicine: Frank Netter and the Atlas of Human Anatomy

Oct 10 2022 14 mins  
In this episode, we will explore the famous 20th century medical illustrator Frank Netter and his magnum opus, the Atlas of Human Anatomy. While this work is his most famous, many people do not realize that Frank Netter was also a doctor, and (briefly) practiced as a surgeon, before spending the majority of his career as a commercial artist. Have a listen to find out more!

Episode 107 - "The Secret"

Jul 31 2022 11 mins  
In this episode, we will meet the Chamberlen family, French Huguenots and barber surgeons/male midwives that practiced in England in the 16th and 17th centuries CE. They had a special instrument that could safely deliver babies in cases of obstruction, a secret they kept for 2 centuries. To find out more, listen to the podcast!

Episode 106 - From toxin to cure: The story of Botox

Jun 22 2022 17 mins  
Initially recognized as a poison in blood sausage by a German country doctor in the 19th century CE, botulinum toxin was isolated and purified during world war II by the American military. It was ophthalmogist Dr. Alan Scott who recognized the clinical utility of the toxin, which now has over 150 different applications!

Episode 105 - Better know an instrument: the Yankauer suction tip

May 03 2022 8 mins  
In this episode, we will cover Dr. Sidney Yankauer, a leader in the development of ENT as a surgical specialty, including the creation of his eponymously named instrument, as well as triumphs and tragedies over the course of his life.