Pain and Simple

“Granddads would have you believe things were better in the good ol’ days, but a short stroll through the International Museum of Surgical Science in Chicago makes liars of them all,” writes Wired. “From graphic paintings of childbirth to a vast collection of often-ghastly tools of the trade, the Surgical Museum is a morbidly fascinating journey into the blood-spattered beginnings of modern medicine. After a look at these hair-raising exhibits, you might remark that while the United States may be in serious need of health care reform, at least we have anesthetics and the germ theory of disease.” The website has published a collection of photos from the museum which it says “will make you grateful you weren’t sick back when surgeons wielded tools that would make Sweeney Todd blush”.