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Julie's Reviews > The Butchering Art: Joseph Lister's Quest to Transform the Grisly World of Victorian Medicine
The Butchering Art: Joseph Lister's Quest to Transform the Grisly World of Victorian Medicine
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The Butchering Art: Joseph Lister's Quest to Transform the Grisly World of Victorian Medicine by Lindsey Fitzharris is a 2017 Scientific American/Farrar Straus and Giroux publication.
Ghastly, but fascinating!
In 1846, as surgery became more frequent, deaths occurred more often as well, due to sepsis, and a myriad of other infections, promptingJosheph Lister to examine the prospect that germs, dirty surgical tools, and hospital cleanliness were to blame.
Lister’s antiseptic theories were groundbreaking, but not especially popular. This led to a great deal of medical politics and backlash towards Lister. This is fascinating because of the mindset in the Victorian days by medical professionals.
However, you should be aware that some of the situations described are not for the faint of heart. While not purposely or gratuitously graphic, your imagination can fill in the blanks. I can’t imagine such primitive practices, or the idea that hospitals were not sanitized, especially the surgical tools. It’s very disgusting to think of, and it’s a wonder anyone survived.
Thank goodness for Joseph Lister and his antiseptic theory!! His life is captivating, and his scientific vision paved the way for medical advancements and a massive reduction in loss of life. He didn’t always have the right answers, but he was an amazing trailblazer in medicine and science.
The book has a bleak atmosphere, and conjures up all manner of appalling images, some of which left me feeling a little green around the gills, but ultimately this is an inspiring story, and I for one came away feeling grateful for Lister and his forward thinking and his tenacity in sticking to his guns when he came under fire.
Lister’s personal life is connected to his professional life in many ways, and is examined moderately, but is not the primary focus of the book. Mainly, the book is about Lister’s work, and often reads like a history textbook in some ways, but nevertheless, it is quite absorbing.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys science, health and medicine, or history- and has a strong stomach!
Ghastly, but fascinating!
In 1846, as surgery became more frequent, deaths occurred more often as well, due to sepsis, and a myriad of other infections, promptingJosheph Lister to examine the prospect that germs, dirty surgical tools, and hospital cleanliness were to blame.
Lister’s antiseptic theories were groundbreaking, but not especially popular. This led to a great deal of medical politics and backlash towards Lister. This is fascinating because of the mindset in the Victorian days by medical professionals.
However, you should be aware that some of the situations described are not for the faint of heart. While not purposely or gratuitously graphic, your imagination can fill in the blanks. I can’t imagine such primitive practices, or the idea that hospitals were not sanitized, especially the surgical tools. It’s very disgusting to think of, and it’s a wonder anyone survived.
Thank goodness for Joseph Lister and his antiseptic theory!! His life is captivating, and his scientific vision paved the way for medical advancements and a massive reduction in loss of life. He didn’t always have the right answers, but he was an amazing trailblazer in medicine and science.
The book has a bleak atmosphere, and conjures up all manner of appalling images, some of which left me feeling a little green around the gills, but ultimately this is an inspiring story, and I for one came away feeling grateful for Lister and his forward thinking and his tenacity in sticking to his guns when he came under fire.
Lister’s personal life is connected to his professional life in many ways, and is examined moderately, but is not the primary focus of the book. Mainly, the book is about Lister’s work, and often reads like a history textbook in some ways, but nevertheless, it is quite absorbing.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys science, health and medicine, or history- and has a strong stomach!
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Reading Progress
November 27, 2017
–
Started Reading
November 27, 2017
– Shelved
November 27, 2017
– Shelved as:
2017
November 27, 2017
– Shelved as:
e-book
November 27, 2017
– Shelved as:
history
November 27, 2017
– Shelved as:
non-fiction
November 27, 2017
– Shelved as:
health
November 27, 2017
– Shelved as:
science
December 3, 2017
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-38 of 38 (38 new)
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RedemptionDenied
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Dec 03, 2017 01:11PM
Great review, Julie!
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RedemptionDenied wrote: "Great review, Julie!"Thank you, RedemptionDenied!!
Maureen wrote: "Ooh very interesting review Julie. X"Thank you, Maureen!!
I'm not sure I could get through this, but sounds fascinating, great review!
This book sounds fascinating! Great review, Julie! :)
Holly wrote: "I'm not sure I could get through this, but sounds fascinating, great review!"Thank you, Holly!! It is, as the title suggests, a bit grisly, but an accurate depiction of the times. I'm glad I didn't live in Victorian times!
Carol (Bookaria) wrote: "This book sounds fascinating! Great review, Julie! :)"Thank you, Carol!!
I enjoyed your review, Julie. I keep eyeing this but I’m rather squeamish.
Kaceey wrote: "Excellent review Julie!:-)"Thank you, Kaceey!!
Tammy wrote: "I enjoyed your review, Julie. I keep eyeing this but I’m rather squeamish."Thank you, Tammy!!, It is graphic in some places. I'm a germaphobe, so it really made me squirm. But, in the end, the book was worth it.
Julie, love the review; love you. You are always SOOO supportive. Thank you, Julie.
Celia wrote: "Julie, love the review; love you. You are always SOOO supportive. Thank you, Julie."Thank you, Celia!! I really appreciate that!! I love you and your reviews, as well.
This would be a fascinating read Julie; great review !!
Thank you, Frances!! It was very interesting!!
Sounds rather intriguing! Nice review, Julie
Great review. Thanks. Sounds like a real heavy book.
This one's on my TBR Julie. Good review.
Jen wrote: "Sounds rather intriguing! Nice review, Julie"Thank you, Jen!!
A. wrote: "Great review. Thanks. Sounds like a real heavy book."Thank you, A. !!
Supratim wrote: "Great review, Julie!"Thank you, Supratim!!
Sandra wrote: "Fantastic review Julie! :)"Thank you, Sandra!!
awesome review! sorry it took me a while to comment, as i was scrubbing up for the last ten minutes.
Ooo, good review! Having spent a few years as an oral surgery tech, this time in medicine sends chills up my spine.
paulie wrote: "awesome review! sorry it took me a while to comment, as i was scrubbing up for the last ten minutes."LOL! I'm glad doctors scrub up now, because they didn't back then. Eeww!
Stacey wrote: "Ooo, good review! Having spent a few years as an oral surgery tech, this time in medicine sends chills up my spine."Thank you, Stacey!! It was horrifying!! But, reading about the way advancements finally came to fruition was very interesting.
I can't wait to read this! Great review! It's fascinating how easy it is to forget how aspects of modern life we take for granted, like the fact that a simple infection isn't a death sentence or that we can obtain relatively easy and safe relief from pain, wasn't the case for people living not so long ago. It always makes me wonder about how it affected the literature and history of the period in small as well as large ways, not simply the fact that so many great historical figures were taken far too soon because of simple illnesses.
Mary wrote: "I can't wait to read this! Great review! It's fascinating how easy it is to forget how aspects of modern life we take for granted, like the fact that a simple infection isn't a death sentence or th..."Thank you, Mary!! I agree. If only we had known then what we know now, great artists and authors would have lived longer and most likely would have had an all together different perspective on things.
Mary wrote: "I think I'll get this for myself and pass on to my daughter who's in the medical field. This is perfect for her! She loves scrubbing into surgery."Thank you very much, Mary!! I think both you and your daughter will find this book fascinating-if you can get past the gross parts, this is.
Excellent review, Julie! I agree, one needs a strong stomach to read this book, but I think these descriptions were necessary for the reader to appreciate the appalling conditions in Victorian Era hospitals. I, too, enjoyed reading about his personal life. Reading about his fight to prove antiseptics work was so frustrating, considering what we know about bacteria today!
Debbie wrote: "Excellent review, Julie! I agree, one needs a strong stomach to read this book, but I think these descriptions were necessary for the reader to appreciate the appalling conditions in Victorian Era ..."Thanks very much, Debbie! It was an interesting book- I can't believe people were opposed to keeping surgical tools and hospitals sanitary! 💖
Julie wrote: "Debbie wrote: "Excellent review, Julie! I agree, one needs a strong stomach to read this book, but I think these descriptions were necessary for the reader to appreciate the appalling conditions in..."I guess they didn't want to take the blame for this, especially since they didn't believe microorganisms existed!
Debbie wrote: "Julie wrote: "Debbie wrote: "Excellent review, Julie! I agree, one needs a strong stomach to read this book, but I think these descriptions were necessary for the reader to appreciate the appalling..."Pretty crazy! I'm glad I didn't live in the Victorian era- though I do love to read about it. 💖
Not the strongest of stomachs— so while I’m sure it’s super fascinating— not sure my stomach can hold up! Great review!! 😎🤢
Heidi wrote: "Not the strongest of stomachs— so while I’m sure it’s super fascinating— not sure my stomach can hold up! Great review!! 😎🤢"Thanks so much, Heidi! Yes, it's pretty gross. Hard to imagine living like that now. 💖
