The Medical System of the Middle Ages

From about the 13th century, surgeons weren't just surgeons, they were barber surgeons and performed all kinds of hands-on treatments. So much of the surgeon's time would be taken up with bleeding but they could also do things like pull teeth, give enemas, apply ointments, drain sores,. remove tumours and amputate as well. But surgeons successfully fought to be split from barbers in 1745. That was when an act of parliament split them into two separate companies, the barbers and the surgeons. The surgeons set up a new hall and anatomy theatre at Newgate Prison so they could dissect the executed criminals.