Modern surgery began with saws and iron hands – how amputation transformed the body in the Renaissance

Amputees in 16th century Europe commissioned iron hands from artisans, many of whom had never made prostheses before. Lernestål, Erik, Livrustkammaren/SHM, CC BY-SA

The human body today has many replaceable parts, ranging from artificial hearts to myoelectric feet. What makes this possible is not just complicated technology and delicate surgical procedures. It’s also an idea — that humans can and should alter patients’ bodies in supremely difficult and invasive ways.

Where did that idea come from?