After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal
Episode: Could You Survive Victorian Surgery?
Release Date: June 19, 2025
Host/Author: History Hit
Guests: Sarah Yorith, Operating Theatre Museum, London

Introduction

In the episode titled "Could You Survive Victorian Surgery?", hosts Anthony Delaney and Maddy Pelling delve into the grim and gritty world of 19th-century medical practices. Joined by Sarah Yorith from the Operating Theatre Museum in London, the discussion unpacks the perilous nature of Victorian surgery, the dark practices that underpinned medical advancements, and the societal implications of these historical events.

Setting the Scene: The Grim Reality of Victorian Surgery [02:35 – 05:25]

Maddy Pelling opens the episode by cautioning listeners about the graphic and unsettling nature of Victorian surgical practices. Anthony Delaney then paints a vivid picture of a Victorian operating theatre, describing it as a "messy, gory and dangerous world". This setting serves as the backdrop for understanding the challenges and horrors faced by both surgeons and patients during this era.

Victorian Surgical Practices and Innovations [05:25 – 14:01]

Sarah Yorith provides an immersive overview of the operating theatres in the early 19th century. Highlighting London's industrial boom, she explains how the surge in population and accidents led to an increased demand for surgical procedures. Key points include:

• Lack of Anesthesia and Antiseptics: Until the 1840s, surgeries were performed without effective pain relief or infection prevention, making operations excruciating and highly risky.

• Speed as a Survival Strategy: Surgeons like Robert Liston became renowned for their ability to perform amputations swiftly—"under three minutes"—to minimize blood loss and reduce the chances of infection (08:28).

• Public Perception and Hospital Care: Contrary to modern views, hospitals in Victorian times were less safe than home care for many, especially the working poor, who had limited access to quality medical care.

Sarah emphasizes the "incredible developments in medicine" during this period, noting the introduction of anesthesia in the 1840s and antiseptics in the 1860s. However, these advancements came with their own set of challenges, such as dosage uncertainties and initial resistance from the medical community.

“Anesthesia really needed the help of antiseptics as well. Because with anesthesia, you've got a body, you've got a person who is nice and still, and it means a surgeon can take their time.”
— Sarah Yorith 06:11

Body Snatching and the Anatomy Act [14:01 – 22:35]

The conversation transitions to the macabre practice of body snatching, a response to the dire shortage of cadavers for medical education and surgical practice. Sarah Yorith outlines the historical context:

• Murder Act of 1752: Initially, only executed murderers were supplied for dissection, a system that was insufficient as medical schools expanded (16:32).

• Body Snatching Operations: Despite the Anatomy Act of 1832, which aimed to provide more legal sources of cadavers, body snatching persisted, especially in densely populated cities like London where demand remained high.

• Economic and Social Drivers: The poor and unclaimed individuals became primary targets for grave robbers, blurring the lines between criminality and poverty. Sarah notes the public outcry and eventual decline of body snatching by the end of the Victorian era.

“Body snatchers are very much in this sort of network of knowing people inland, the hospitals, getting tip offs from certain undertakers about freshly buried bodies.”
— Sarah Yorith 22:35

Famous Surgeons: The Legacy of Robert Liston [28:22 – 35:39]

A significant portion of the discussion focuses on Robert Liston, a celebrated Victorian surgeon known as "the fastest knife in the West End." Sarah Yorith recounts various legends surrounding Liston, including tales of his extraordinary speed and the tragic mishaps that allegedly accompanied his rapid procedures.

• Surgical Techniques: Liston's ability to perform amputations in mere minutes was groundbreaking, though it sometimes led to unintended casualties, such as accidental limb removals (34:02).

• Professionalization of Surgery: The Victorian era marked a shift from "barber surgeons" to more formally trained medical professionals. This transition, however, was not without issues like nepotism and inconsistent skill levels among surgeons.

“Robert Liston is genuinely renowned as being incredible. There is a story that goes that he had a surgery that had a 300% mortality rate.”
— Sarah Yorith 34:17

Types of Victorian Surgeries: Beyond Amputations [40:24 – 43:48]

Sarah Yorith details the primary surgical procedures prevalent during the Victorian period, each fraught with its own dangers and discomforts:

1. Amputations: The most common procedure, often performed to save lives from severe injuries or infections. Rapid execution was crucial to minimize blood loss.

2. Lithotomy: Surgical removal of bladder stones, a particularly invasive and painful procedure involving the insertion of a "lithotomy probe" through the urethra (41:57).

3. Trepanation: Drilling holes into the skull to relieve pressure from head injuries—a procedure that remains one of the most gruesome aspects of Victorian surgery.

“It can include things like external tumors being sliced off. So like mastectomies were being done and they were in a way straightforward.”
— Sarah Yorith 40:24

Transition to Modern Practices: The Advent of Sterilization [43:48 – 45:04]

As the Victorians approached the latter part of the century, significant strides were made toward more hygienic and regulated surgical environments. The introduction of germ theory in the 1860s revolutionized medical practices:

• Sterilization: Surgeons began adopting metal tables and instruments that were easier to clean, moving away from the previously common wooden setups (43:48).

• Professional Standards: Institutions like the Royal College of Surgeons played a pivotal role in standardizing surgical education and certification, ensuring higher levels of competence among practitioners.

“By the time we are into the 20th century, it is a very different picture and for the better.”
— Sarah Yorith 43:48

Working in Historic Settings: Preserving the Past [45:04 – 46:27]

Concluding the discussion, Sarah Yorith shares her passion for working in historic medical settings. She underscores the importance of preserving these spaces to educate future generations about the harrowing yet pivotal advancements in medical history. Her reflections highlight the emotional and intellectual rewards of engaging with such profound historical narratives.

“It is an absolute honour to talk about stories of what is. It's also, it was a women's operating theatre, so it's women's stories.”
— Sarah Yorith 45:36

Conclusion

The episode "Could You Survive Victorian Surgery?" offers a compelling exploration of the perilous nature of 19th-century medical practices. Through vivid descriptions and expert insights, listeners gain a deeper understanding of how far medical science has come and the dark histories that paved the way for modern advancements. The discussion not only highlights the innovations and challenges of the Victorian surgical theatre but also underscores the societal impacts of medical practices during that era.

For those fascinated by medical history and the macabre aspects of the past, this episode serves as a gripping narrative of survival, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of knowledge amidst peril.

Notable Quotes:

• “Anesthesia really needed the help of antiseptics as well. Because with anesthesia, you've got a body, you've got a person who is nice and still, and it means a surgeon can take their time.”
  — Sarah Yorith 06:11

• “Robert Liston is genuinely renowned as being incredible. There is a story that goes that he had a surgery that had a 300% mortality rate.”
  — Sarah Yorith 34:17

• “It is an absolute honour to talk about stories of what is. It's also, it was a women's operating theatre, so it's women's stories.”
  — Sarah Yorith 45:36

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