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The History of the Scalpel

A scalpel is a small, sharp blade used primarily in surgery. Contemporary scalpels are typically made of steel, but the tool traces its origins to the earliest known surgical implements.

  1. Earliest tools

    • The earliest tools and weapons were fashioned out of wood, bone, antlers, shells and stone as long as 1 million years ago, according to John Kirkup's "Evolution of Surgical Instruments."

    Early sharps

    • Knives dating to 3000 B.C. discovered in present-day Iraq are believed to have been used for surgery, according to the Medical Discoveries database. In addition, Hammurabi's Code--which dates back some 3,700 years--mentions bronze lancets, direct cousins of the scalpel, with two cutting edges.

    Further evolution

    • Descriptions of scalpels, as well as the tools themselves, have been found in Greek, Peruvian and Roman settlements dating to the late centuries B.C. and the early centuries A.D., according to the Medical Discoveries database.

    Indian medicine

    • India's Hindus, in particular, were adept at early surgery. They used scalpels in plastic surgery to restore amputated noses, according to the Medical Discoveries database.

    Modernization

    • Surgery declined in Europe during its "Dark Ages," but recovered in the 18th and 19th centuries, particularly due to Louis Pasteur's sterilization of instruments, according to "Contributions of Louis Pasteur to Western Civilization."

    Current uses

    • Traditional steel scalpels are still commonly used for surgical cutting, though laser scalpels are becoming increasingly common.

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