Yes, the first chainsaw was created for use in delivery — albeit it was mercifully nothing like the electric-powered monsters that people use nowadays to fell trees.
The prototype for symphysiotomy was created by two Scottish doctors, John Aitken and James Jeffrey, in the late 18th century.
When the infant is imprisoned and a caesarian section is not possible, symphysiotomy is a surgical procedure in which the cartilage of the pubic symphysis is separated to enlarge the pelvis.
Previously, it had been done with a knife, which took a long time and was extremely unpleasant. The teethed links of chains around a guiding blade were moved manually by rotating a handle on this early chainsaw. Symphysiotomies are no longer utilized in modern surgery, as delivery is now far safer and more advanced than it formerly was.
Read Also: Why Were Chainsaws Invented? (Helping Childbirth or Cutting Wood)
The Chainsaw’s Evolution
In 1830, a German orthopaedist named Bernhard Heine created a new chainsaw that could also be used in surgery.
He named it an osteotome, which comes from the Greek words osteon (bone) and Tomi (cut) and means “bone cutter.“
People began to realize that chainsaws may be used for purposes other than medicine at the turn of the twentieth century.
In 1905, a guy named Samuel J Bens from San Francisco was granted the first patent for an electric chainsaw, dubbed the “endless chain saw.” His goal was to use it to cut down massive redwoods.
Andreas Stihl patented the first electric chainsaw that was actually built and sold in 1926. Many of the early types were so enormous that they required two men to operate.
After WWII, chainsaws improved considerably due to advancements in aluminum and engine design that made them lighter.
Chainsaws are available in a variety of sizes, ranging from small electric saws for household and garden use to massive “lumberjack” saws.
Is it possible that the first chainsaw was created for medical purposes, specifically childbirth? Our research team will describe how it evolved into the contemporary chainsaws we use to cut wood and trees today in this tutorial.
Chainsaws: Who Invented Them?
The original chainsaw was a long cry from the massive electrically powered power tools we use today to cut down trees and wood.
Two Scottish surgeons, John Aitken and James Jeffrey devised the chainsaw, which was manufactured from a watch chain and was designed exclusively for childbirth. For 58 years, Jeffrey was a renowned Anatomy and Botany professor at Glasgow University.
What Was the Original Purpose of Chainsaws?
Two Scottish doctors, John Aitken and James Jeffrey realized the need for a tool to assist in childbirth in the 1780s.
When it came to symphysiotomy, knives were thought to be inefficient and time-consuming. It’s a surgery used on pregnant mothers whose babies are facing in the wrong direction.
These two Scottish surgeons were able to locate more space in the delivery canal and make the tedious removal of pelvic bone easier thanks to the creation of a hand-crank-powered chainsaw.
