Emotions and Surgery in Britain, 1793-1912

Michael Brown's book explores the emotional dynamics of nineteenth-century British surgery, from the pre-anaesthetic era to the introduction of anaesthesia and antisepsis techniques. It demonstrates how Romantic sensibility was superseded by scientific modernity, marginalizing the emotions of both patients and practitioners. It challenges our perception of the pre-anaesthetic period as an era of bloody brutality.

Format: Hardback
Length: 300 pages
Publication date: 20 October 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

In this groundbreaking analytical exploration of the role of emotion and embodiment in nineteenth-century British surgery, Michael Brown delves into the shifting emotional dynamics of surgical culture for both surgeons and patients, spanning from the pre-anaesthetic era to the introduction of anaesthesia and antisepsis techniques. Through a comprehensive examination of diverse archival and published sources, Brown uncovers how a Romantic sensibility, characterized by the central importance of emotions in the practice and experience of surgery, gave way to a scientific modernity that marginalized the emotions of both patients and practitioners. By demonstrating that the cultures of contemporary surgery and the emotional identities of its practitioners trace their roots back to the cultural and conceptual upheavals of the later nineteenth century, this book prompts us to reevaluate our perception of the pre-anaesthetic period as an era characterized by bloody brutality and casual cruelty. Moreover, this title is available as open access, ensuring wider accessibility and dissemination of its valuable insights.

Weight: 1725g
ISBN-13: 9781108834841