The old operating theatre
Climb the narrow wooden stairs to discover this previous annex of St Thomas Hospital. The first part presents medicinal plants used for treatments and the way they were prepared.
But what a strange place – this is the roof of the english baroque church!
At the time though it proved logical. The hospital was built around the church and the women ward almost touched this side of the building. Before 1822, the patients were operated in their own bed, surrounded but the medical student gathering to learn a new process. No phonic insulation – imagine how high the morale was! It was therefore practical to extend to the church and build a separate operating theatre.
Placed under the roof, it offered natural light. Surprisingly small and basic, this is the oldest in Europe.
Picture it. At the time, there were no anesthaetics. Alcool and opiate were used instead. Chloroform only appeared in 1947… Any surgery had to be pretty quick. No comfort - single plank of wood. Wood saw on the floor to absorb blood. No heating in winter. Did you know that Keats practised as a surgeon here before dedicating himself to arts and poetry?
Short life though – St Thomas slowly moved towards Lambeth and closes the theatre in 1862. It stays completely forgotten and intact! until 1956… A visit in a long gone London. You will bless modern medicine after this.
St Thomas’ hospital is on the other side of the street. Walk under its arches and say hello to Keat’s statue there. Admirers like to leave a few flowers in his memory. A couple of streets away is the lovely Borough Market with its extraordinary stalls of cheese, pickles, pastries…
The old operating theatre
9a St. Thomas’s St.
London SE1 9RY
£5.80/adult
Tube: London Bridge
13 Responses to “The old operating theatre ”
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Chocoralie says:
C’est pour ca que je l’ai visite le jour d’halloween, du coup…
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Ca fait plaisir de te relire
Et de découvrir encore et toujours ces endroits insolites qu’on ne soupçonnerait même pas. Bon, dès que j’en ai fini avec mon dentiste, j’irais peut-être faire un tour… -
Bon courage chez le dentiste… Tu as le temps ideal pour une belle promenade!
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C’est juste passionnant.. J’ai adoré l’anecdote sur Keats que j’aime tant
Ce billet est une merveille, merci pour la découverte!
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Ca m’avait beaucoup impressionnée d’y aller! Imaginer être découpé en morceaux avec tous les gradins qui matent… Tu savais que le premier rang avait des blouses en plastiques a cause du sang, et que le sol a un double fond, encore a cause du sang, si la sciure suffit pas? yuuuuuuck
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Merci Sarah-Lou! Ayant moi-meme etudie les poesies de Keats a la fac, l’anecdote m’a marque. Deux vocations tres eloignees!
Bibsa: je lisais justement que les patients mourraient plus… du choc, souvent, que de l’operation en soi! Apparemment, les chirurgiens devaient etre capables d’amputer un membre en une minute. Hum! J’ignorais le de detail du double fond et des blouses en plastique. J’ai juste vu que les blouses etait raides de pus et de sang. Je me demande s’il vaut mieux passer au Borough Market avant ou apres cette visite!
Tu as visite le Hunterian Museum?
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I especially keep this one for before dentist appointment. Makes it look like a luxury and 5* service!
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