18. Medieval surgeons made the practice of amputation an art form
Injured limbs, whether damaged by act of war or through an accident, often led to amputations as the surest way of ensuring the survival of the patient. Though some simple fractures could be set and allowed to heal over time with the support of splints, compound fractures could not, and the loss of the limb was all but certain. During the medieval period, surgeons traveling with contending armies considered speed to be the most important factor in performing amputations. The speed was not simply a point of personal pride, allowing bragging rights for the fastest. It was the factor which assured the best possible outcome for the patient, reducing both shock from pain and from loss of blood.
By the middle of the medieval period, a competent surgeon could complete the amputation of a leg in less than five minutes from the time he made his initial surgical cut. The leg itself was removed in less than a minute, the remaining time was required to control the bleeding. Cauterization became the means of stopping the bleeding, but medieval surgeons also restored the practice of using ligatures on blood vessels in some instances, which had been practiced by the ancient Greeks. Medieval surgeons also developed casts for broken limbs for those fortunate enough to not lose them. Made from a mixture of flour and eggs, the casts hardened enough to keep a broken leg set, though not enough to bear the weight of the person.