Minerva chirurgica
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Historical Article
[History of surgery in Preci better known as surgeons of Norcia].
This paper makes a small contribution to a more detailed knowledge of the history of Italian surgery. Few know that Italy can boast a category of surgeons who should be regarded as the world forebears of modern surgery. These skilled individuals are better known as "Norcini", a term which is often regarded as negative and contemptible. ⋯ They developed specific instruments and were the first to introduce cauterization and narcosis. The latter enabled them to overcome almost all the factors which limited surgery at the time, namely infection, pain and hemorrhage. This study attempts to explain how and why such skillful surgeons were to be found in such a small and isolated area of Umbria.