History of Surgery workshop

Price: £340 per workshop
Key Stage: 3 and 4
Length: 1 hour
Adult to student ratio: 1:15 (adults free)
Maximum capacity: 40 students

Based in our Victorian Operating Theatre, this session gives students a front row seat to see nineteenth-century surgery in action. Join our esteemed Victorian Surgeon to explore the history of surgery, from painkillers to blood transfusions.

What will my students do in this session?

Students will have the opportunity to put themselves in a patient’s situation, handle real surgical historical objects, and experience the smells of a real Victorian operating theatre.

What will my students learn in this session?

Students will identify the key features and risks of Victorian surgery.
Students will be able to describe attempts to tackle pain in surgery, including James Simpson’s discovery of chloroform.
Students will be able to describe attempts to tackle infection in surgery, including Joseph Lister’s use of antiseptics.
Students will be able to describe approaches to treating blood loss in surgery.