Discovery of ancient Chinese anaesthesia reveals advanced early surgical practices
Researchers have uncovered evidence of topical anesthetics used in 14th-century China, developed by surgeon Xia Quan during the Ming dynasty. Analysis of surgical tools from Xia's tomb revealed the presence of aconitine, a toxin from the wolfsbane plant. This discovery supports historical texts and demonstrates an early understanding of how such compounds could temporarily inhibit nerve function to alleviate surgical pain. AI
