Surgery was performed under anesthesia over 600 years ago: a new find in China rewrites the history of medicine

Modern anesthesia was developed in the 1840s in the United States through the work of dentists Horace Wells and William T. G. Morton, along with physician Crawford Long. However, a recent study led by Chinese archaeologists and scientists at Northwest University, headed by Professor Zhao Congcang, has revealed microscopic traces of a topical anesthetic on 14th-century surgical instruments recovered from a Ming dynasty tomb (c. 1368–1644) in Jiangyin, China.

Using chemical analysis – specifically stimulated Raman scattering microscopy – researchers discovered traces of this traditional anesthetic on iron forceps and scissors dating from the period.

The discovery represents the first direct physical evidence in archaeology of anesthetics being used in ancient surgery, confirming practices that until now had only been documented in historical texts.

The breakthrough came when researchers detected aconitine on 10 surgical instruments found in Xia Quan’s tomb. Aconitine is a toxin derived from the poisonous plant commonly known as aconite.

According to study author Zhao, of Northwest University in Xi’an, in China’s central Shaanxi province, aconitine activates sodium ion channels in nerve cell membranes. Continuous stimulation leads to temporary nerve excitation followed by inhibition.

“In the context of Ming Dynasty surgery, once a patient received an application of a medicinal liquid infused with aconitine, they might initially feel local warmth, tingling or numbness, followed by a gradual loss of pain sensation and entry into an anesthetized state,” Zhao explained.

To reduce aconitine’s potentially lethal effects, physicians boiled or soaked the plant in substances such as vinegar, black soybean soup or more complex preparations. This process produced traditional pain-relieving formulas such as a preparation known as Caowu San.

Rather than administering the substance orally – which could cause cardiac arrest – it was prepared as a topical paste or solution. It was then applied directly to the area of skin where the incision would be made.

The presence of residue on the cutting edges of the scissors and the tips of the forceps suggests that surgeons soaked the instruments in the anesthetic solution. As they made incisions or manipulated tissue, the substance could therefore continuously anesthetize the area being treated.

The findings from Xia Quan’s instruments indicate that more than 600 years ago, Chinese surgeons were already performing invasive procedures with precisely applied local anesthesia, managing the delicate balance between the potency of plant toxins and patient safety.

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.