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I am curious, what kind of air support or monitoring do you think was done in the american civil war? This story is told in some ancient times it's clear. The idea of germs being passed wasn't even discovered until 1870. Chloroform was used for anesthesia.. And on the battlefield, things were often done hastily. I also ponder if any dr. in this situation, who had a head of state, a king, a president, an emperor, under pressure for political reasons, wouldn't decide to try and save that person. I am not saying I know the answers, but I feel you are applying modern possibilities to ancient times.
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Ok yes we don't know what kind of treatment was done during the civil war but she is a modern doctor. She has used her modern knowledge before so why not now. Also if you don't minor ABC's ( airway, circulation, and breathing) then the patient can very well be dead. I work in emergency situations all the time. As a paramedic what I neglect can kill the patient and I don't work with monitors like surgeons I have to use my hands and actually check so i am sure old doctors did the same.
Anyone else triggered by the lack of airway support during the surgery? Good, goosebumpy chapters tho!
Edit: I didn’t mean full intubation, I just mean head tilt chin lift/ jaw thrust maneuvers