Monday, August 3, 2026
Science

Ancient anesthetic reveals Ming China's sophisticated medicine

Microscopic analysis of residues on surgical scissors and tweezers from a 1348–1411 CE tomb in Jiangyin, China, finds the first evidence for the controlled application of a highly toxic chemical as anesthetic, highlighting the sophisticated medicine of the Ming dynasty.

Ancient anesthetic reveals Ming China's sophisticated medicine
Image: Phys.org
Microscopic analysis of residues on surgical scissors and tweezers from a 1348–1411 CE tomb in Jiangyin, China, finds the first evidence for the controlled application of a highly toxic chemical as anesthetic, highlighting the sophisticated medicine of the Ming dynasty.

Originally published at Phys.org

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