How did men survive this?

[Losty]

I almost passed out just from reading this and I’m not even a guy.

“In the 19th century, to break a stone from their bladder, men had to pass a nail through their penis and then use a hammer to break it into pieces small enough to pass through their urethra. The was performed without anesthesia until around 1846.”

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

How did men survive this?

Probably with the help of leather restraints and a good deal of shrieking.

Seriously though, bladder stones can be insanely painful and can block the urinary tract.  A short, painful procedure was really the only viable option.

Boru

[arewethereyet]

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

[Losty]

How did men survive this?

Probably with the help of leather restraints and a good deal of shrieking.

Seriously though, bladder stones can be insanely painful and can block the urinary tract.  A short, painful procedure was really the only viable option.

Boru

I had kidney stones. It was easily the most painful thing I have ever experienced. Even so, I think I might rather keep them than let someone stick a giant nail through my urethra 😱

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I had blood clots extracted from my bladder last fall. The pain was ... impressive.

[brewer]

I think they had distilled liquor. Plus medicinal opium and morphine were around in the early 1800's.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I think they had distilled liquor. Plus medicinal opium and morphine were around in the early 1800's.

Liquor often makes pain worse until you pass out. Fine line there. Opium would dull the pain, but a bag of ice would be a good idea, I think.

[Rev. Rye]

You should watch The Knick. It's like Mad Men, only it's a medical drama set in 1900, and it actually showcases graphic medical procedures that may or may not be crude versions of procedures in common practice today. Or graphic medical procedures that thankfully aren't in common practice. And the use of cocaine and heroin as anesthesia.

[The Valkyrie]

19th century medicine.

Many didn't survive.

[Rev. Rye]

19th century medicine.

Many didn't survive.

A point The Knick makes clear in its opening scene:
(note: I hid this because I figured this would be prudent.)

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(Also, not only does the mother die, the doctor with the impressive beard offs himself due to his despair at failing to solve a problem that affects 1 in 200 pregnancies.)