John Hunter: learning from natural experiments, 'placebos', and the state of mind of a patient in the 18th century.

Abstract

Maverick, Scottish-born 18th-century surgeon John Hunter was Georgian London's most popular surgeon in the late 18th century.1,2 He made exceptional contributions to advancing the understanding and practice of medicine through observation and experiment. John Hunter studied anatomy for 12 years alongside his brother William, at their school in Covent Garden. After a few short spells of hands-on surgical practice in London hospitals, he signed up in 1760 as a surgeon in the British army.