Battlefield surgery in 1540, historical artwork. Wounded soldier having an arrowhead extracted from his chest as the battle continues. Surgery in the 16th century was painful and risky, as anaesthetic & antiseptic drugs were not invented until the 19th century and post-operative infection often killed patients. Image taken from Feldtbuch des Wundartzney (Fieldbook of Surgery) by H. von Gersdorff, Strasbourg, 1540.