If a modern-day surgeon was transported back in time to 1909, would he/she be able to operate successfully with just the tools of the time?

I think there is some evidence of brain surgery occurring as far back as the ancient Egyptians. Can’t claim how that worked out, but along with the knowledge learned in recent times, I believe there has been a great deal of knowledge lost as well.

Depends upon the operation.

Excellent point about the early brain surgery. As I recall there was evidence that the person had healed, so it could be speculated that the surgery was a success.

I wonder what they did back then to reduce infection risk…

Lots of wine enemas.

Naturally. I should have thought of that. ~

He/she would bitch a lot, and probably do a pretty good job.

They would accomplish nothing. There’d be no way to charge Medicare or BCBS.

Their biggest challenge would probably be anesthesia. Back then they used mostly chloroform, I wonder how much a modern surgeon would know about the proper dosage.

@zenvelo I would assume he/she could consult with the practicing physicians of our time regarding dosage of chloroform, but you make an interesting point. I also assume that they had the ability to sterilize the instruments in 1909.

Amuch more limited range of successful surgery. Apendectomies, for example, have been accomplished under emergency situations with limited resources, as have Caesdarean deliveries. I would not attempt brain, heart, or plastic surgery.

@RealEyesRealizeRealLies @zenvelo Brandy. That’s what was in a Civil War ship’s surgery for anaesthesia.