The Horrors of Surgery Before Energy
Clip: Season 1 Episode 4 | 1m 42sVideo has Closed Captions
Before modern energy, surgery in hospitals was a nightmare
Before modern energy, surgery in hospitals was a nightmare. Doctors would drip hot wax from candles into open wounds. Patients might survive the surgery but would frequently die from infection during recovery. After modern medicine gained electricity, fossil fuels for plastics and pharmaceuticals, running hot water and stainless steel, surviving surgery became more likely.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
The Horrors of Surgery Before Energy
Clip: Season 1 Episode 4 | 1m 42sVideo has Closed Captions
Before modern energy, surgery in hospitals was a nightmare. Doctors would drip hot wax from candles into open wounds. Patients might survive the surgery but would frequently die from infection during recovery. After modern medicine gained electricity, fossil fuels for plastics and pharmaceuticals, running hot water and stainless steel, surviving surgery became more likely.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
How to Watch Power Trip: The Story of Energy
Power Trip: The Story of Energy is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
Buy Now
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship
- Science and Nature
Capturing the splendor of the natural world, from the African plains to the Antarctic ice.
- Science and Nature
Explore scientific discoveries on television's most acclaimed science documentary series.
Support for PBS provided by: