M.I. Pyrohov

Great surgeon Pyrohov Mykola Ivanovych (1810—81) was born in Moscow. He entered the University of Moscow at the age of 14 and completed medical education at 17, then studied in Germany receiv­ing a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Derpt, where he served as a professor of surgery from 1836 to 1840. The scientist first gained prominence in the United States for his anatomical studies on the arteries and fascia. In 1840 he returned to Russia and became a pro­lessor of hospital surgery at the Military Medical Academy in St. Pe­tersburg.

The beginning of the Crimean War in 1845 found Mykola Iva­novych in Sevastopol. He devised the plaster cast, first used success­fully in the Sevastopol campaign, and the Pyrohov amputation, a method of severing the foot so that part of the heel bone is left in the slump to give added support to the lower ends of the leg bones. He was one of the first to use ether as an anaesthetic (1847) and was the author of many other scientific treatises.

Pyrohov’s life was dedicated to people. He was a field surgeon during four wars (in the Caucasus in 1847, in the Crimea in 1845, during the Franco-Prussian war in 1870, and the Russo-Turkish war in 1877), selflessly saving the lives of the wounded in the most difficult conditions.

He in fact created a new medical science, field surgery, and sug­gested new, rational principles for grouping, distribution and evacua­tion of the wounded. His work, “Fundamentals of Field Surgery” (1864), soon became a reference book for field surgeons in all coun-

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He formulated some of the most important principles of treating gunshot wounds, fractures, shock and wound infections, and devel­oped the most ingenious methods of performing operations.

Pyrohov had a phenomenal capacity for work, which enabled him to do a great deal in all spheres of surgery. He also developed classical, world acknowledged methods of operations and treatment in ophthal­mology, urology, and other fields. Many of those methods are applied even now, and one of them, the so-called Pyrohov amputation, marked the beginning of osteoplasty, giving a powerful impetus to the develop­ment of reconstructive surgery.

In spite of unfavourable work conditions, M.I. Pyrohov performed very serious operations, and did everything that could be done during the pre-antiseptic period. As V.A. Oppel noted, “His results were not exceeded by anyone and couldn’t be exceeded at all”.

Unusual results of Pyrohov’s surgical work struck even himself, which can be read in “The Basics”. He treated not only surgical ill­nesses, but also internal, eye, infectious, skin and venereal diseases. The great surgeon was engaged not only in medical work. Being a mediator he stood for peasants’ interests, was struggling against hard drinking, taught peasants’ children how to read and write.

Genuinely compassionate to the sick and wounded, Pyrohov made efforts to find ways of relieving their suffering. He was among the first to realize the importance of general anaesthesia and narcosis applica­tion, doing all he could for its introduction into surgery. He firmly believed that narcosis not only relieved pain, but created the optimum conditions for keeping up the patient’s vital functions during an ope­ration.

The scientist died on November 23, 1881. On the fourth day after his death the body of M.I. Pyrohov was embalmed by D.I. Vyvodtsev (1830~1886), a famous military field surgeon and inventor.

NATIONAL O.O. BOHOMOLETS MEDICAL UNIVERSITY