Horsley Operation

Hello dear reader, today I would like to share information about one of the most respected surgeons of the early 20th century - John Horsley (1858-1943), also known as John Horsley Sr. He was one of the few Western surgeons who studied and applied traditional Chinese surgical techniques. Despite his many achievements, the surgeon's use of amputated limbs caused significant public outcry.

John Horsley was born on June 26, 1899 in Glasgow, Scotland. He received his medical education at the University of Glasgow, where he graduated from the school of medicine in 1922. John was a good student, publishing scientific articles and papers before pursuing his career as a surgeon. Early in his career he worked in hospitals in Glasgow but continued his research and teaching. He later moved to China and worked there to specialize in Chinese and Western style surgery. In 1935 he returned to Britain and became professor of anesthesiology and surgery at St Mary's Langwidge Hospital, Oxford.

Horsley's operation was part of a series of surgical techniques he developed to treat Chinese medicine joint disorders. It was considered extremely radical and caused widespread public outcry in the early 1900s. This method involved amputating the limbs of patients with tumors on the joints if traditional methods did not cure them. Although he helped many patients regain their health, this process was resented by many people and caused much debate in society. For a long time, many experts considered this method incorrect and harmful. The UK government subsequently objected to the operation due to a lack of evidence of its effectiveness and potential dangers.