The Only Surgery in History with a 300% Death Rate

In 1847, skilled surgeon Robert Liston attempted to perform the fastest amputation in medical history - and succeeded in the worst possible way. Armed with his lucky knife and legendary speed, Liston completed the surgery in under 30 seconds... but accidentally slashed his assistant's fingers, sliced through a spectator's coat, and watched in horror as both men and his patient died from different causes. This is the incredible true story of the only operation in history with a 300% mortality rate. Join us as we explore the bizarre world of pre-anesthetic surgery, where speed was prized above all else, surgeons were ranked by how fast they could cut, and a man could accidentally kill three people while trying to save one life. Discover why Liston was called "The Fastest Knife in the West End" - and why that wasn't always a good thing.Support the show here via PayPal:https://www.paypal.com/donate/?business=DWSYBNBMAY9AL&no_recurring=0&item_name=Thanks+for+your+help%21&currency_code=USD