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• February 22nd, 2009

  What's the deal with Obsidian Scalpels?

  I realize this was posted almost a year ago, but I would like to add my two cents to the topic. As Blademan stated, obsidian scalpels are far superior to the modern steel scalpel. If you look into the thoracic procedures of a man named Don Crabtree from the 1970s, you just might be surprised. He knapped his own obsidian blades for the surgery. Additionally, anthropologist/archaeologist Payson D. Sheets conducted a study on the sharpness difference between several different blades. Depending on the edge being analyzed, he found that the obsidian was 210 to 1050 times sharper than the steel surgical scalpel. They also examined cuts made by the different blades under the microscope and the steel scalpel actually tore the flesh and created a ragged edge, whereas the obsidian blade was much cleaner and crisper. They’re not in widespread use because they cannot be mass manufactured. Each blade has to be hand-made by a professional. This is probably why some of you have never heard of them being used before.
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