Ancient Chinese physician and surgeon Hua Tuo (circa. 140-208) treating the warrior Guan Yu for an infected arm wound. Hua was the first surgeon recor

---

Ancient Chinese physician and surgeon Hua Tuo (circa. 140-208) treating the warrior Guan Yu for an infected arm wound. Hua was the first surgeon recorded to use anaesthesia during surgery, administering an oral concoction that included hemp. However, this image tells the story of Hua Tuo treating General Yu, who refused anaesthesia, instead distracting himself with a game of go. Hua cleaned the wound, caused by a poisoned arrow, to the bone, removing the necrotic (dead) tissue. Woodcut created in 1853 by Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1798-1861).

---

Size: 4999px × 3493px
Photo credit: © LIBRARY OF CONGRESS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: -, 100s, 1800s, 1853, 19th, 200s, 2nd, 3rd, anaesthesia, ancient, anesthesia, arm, artwork, board, century, chinese, di, doctor, dynasty, eastern, game, general, guan, han, hua, illustration, kuniyoshi, operating, operation, physician, surgeon, surgery, surgical, treating, treatment, tuo, utagawa, warrior, woodcut, wound, yu, yuanhua, yunchang