History and Hearsay

From Surgery to Sawdust: The Unexpected History of the Chainsaw

Christina Season 4 Episode 9

0:00 - Intro

0:48 - Early Cutting Devices

1:43 - Childbirth & Post-Mortem Caesarian Sections

5:34 - The Symphysiotomy

8:34 - The First Chainsaws 

13:25 - Caesarean section on a live woman

17:42 - Advancements in the Caesarean section

19:05 - Surviving a C-Section

21:46 -Medical Advancements

23:43 - Advances in the Chainsaw

26:14 - Chains & World War II

28:02 -  Modern Chainsaw Use

SOURCES:

https://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/everyday-myths/why-were-chainsaws-invented.htm 

https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/fun-fact-unfortunately-chainsaws-were-invented-for-childbirth 

https://egojournal.eu/journal/2024-3/caesarean-section-history-of-a-surgical-procedure-that-has-always-been-with-us/ 

https://www.warhistoryonline.com/instant-articles/the-chainsaw-in-world-war-two.html 

https://ronixtools.com/en/blog/history-of-power-tools-series-history-of-chain-saw/ 

https://www.freerx.com/Blog/Details?s=Fascinating-History-Chainsaws 

https://www.sciencefocus.com/science/why-was-the-chainsaw-invented 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15209147/ 

https://www.waldwissen.net/en/learning-and-teaching/forest-history/the-history-of-the-chainsaw 

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/dec/12/symphysiotomy-irelands-brutal-alternative-to-caesareans 

https://www.husqvarna.com/au/learn-and-discover/history-of-the-chainsaw-celebrating-60-years/?srsltid=AfmBOooxzOIhL4F2wzj6X3CyWl1TYA-NiedMFGncH59rrtmOXRQk9pUK 

University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics. Treating your pain during labor and delivery. University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics site. https://uihc.org/health-topics/treating-your-pain-during-labor-and-delivery#:~:text=The%20medications%20may%20make%20the,%2C%20and%20Stadol%20(butorphanol).

Felton J. We Regret To Inform You That Chainsaws Were Originally Invented For Childbirth. IFLScience. 2021. https://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/we-regret-to-inform-you-that-chainsaws-were-originally-invented-for-childbirth/. Accessed March 25, 2021.

Western Journal of the Medical and Physical Sciences, 1830;4(3):485-488. 

The chain saw--a Scottish invention. Scottish Medical Journal. 2004;49(2):72-5. doi: 10.1177/00369330040490021