Why were chainsaws invented?
ALTHOUGH chainsaws are mostly associated with lumberjacks or horror films, many may not be aware of the tools initial purpose.
Here we take a look at the history of the chainsaw and why it was invented – and the real reason will definitely surprise you.
Why were chainsaws invented?
The original chainsaw appeared to be a knife with a chain mechanism attached that was operated using a turning handle – and dates back to the 18th century.
They were invented for use in medical procedures to help ease the task of cutting through bone.
It was specifically used to carry out a ‘symphysiotomy’ – an outdated procedure carried out during childbirth, in place of a caesarean section, which involved removing bone and cartilage to clear obstruction and to make room for the baby to deliver from the birth canal.
The invention was quite the medical breakthrough and was used for most of the 19th century in surgeries.
Who invented chainsaws?
Scottish doctors John Aitken and James Jeffray invented the chainsaw in a bid to make the removal of the pelvic bone easier and less time-consuming.
John Aitken became a surgeon in the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, and he also gave medical lectures and demonstrations to university students.
Jeffray was a Professor of anatomy and botany at Glasgow University for 58 years, one of the longest ever Scottish professorships.
He published Cases of the Excision of Carious Joints in 1806, which was a collection of works in which he discussed the invention of the chainsaw.
A similar idea appeared in the 1830s, invented by a German orthopaedic surgeon which then evolved into a wood chopping tool.
In 1883, a patent for a chainsaw for cutting boards was passed and then subsequently more and more chainsaws developed.
They became larger and more powerful and eventually grew to be the brutal chopping device we know today.
Dr Mark Skippen, from Swansea University, said: “The chainsaw is a good example of technological innovations that end up being used for different purposes to their original intention.
“Based on the design of a watch chain, the original chainsaw devised in Scotland has since led to tools used in obstetrics, orthopaedics, neurosurgery and now tree surgery worldwide.”
Were chainsaws invented for childbirth?
Chainsaws were originally invented for childbirth.
As mentioned above, a symphysiotomy would be performed to help with childbirth, and a chainsaw would be used.
Although giving birth still requires bravery and strength, women in the 1700s had it a lot worse.
Unlike with modern medicine, if a baby was breech back then, the medical professional would have to widen the pelvic area with the chainsaw.
Luckily for women nowadays, the introduction of caesarean sections meant that symphysiotomies are no longer widely used on pregnant women.
What is a symphysiotomy?
A symphysiotomy was a procedure carried out on pregnant women before, during or after birth in the place of a Caesarean Section.
The procedure involves slicing through the cartilage and ligaments of a pelvic joint (or in extreme cases, called pubiotomy, sawing through the bone of the pelvis itself) to widen it and allow a baby to be delivered unobstructed.
The procedure carried the risk of urethral and bladder injury, infection, pain, and long-term walking difficulty.
Symphysiotomies became a routine surgical procedure for women experiencing an obstructed labour from 1597.
They became less frequent in the late 20th century after the risk of maternal death from caesarean section decreased (due to improvement in techniques, hygiene, and clinical practice).
It is estimated that 1,500 women unknowingly and without consent underwent symphysiotomies during childbirth in the Republic of Ireland between 1944 and 1987.
In 2002, Survivor Matilda Behan and her daughter, Bernadette, set up an advocacy group for the victims called Survivors of Symphysiotomy (SoS).