David Livingstone's uvulectomy

In April 1852 in Cape Town, South Africa, Dr David Livingstone, then 39 years of age and yet to commence the explorations of Africa which would bring him to public attention, underwent the surgical procedure of uvulectomy. This article reviews the history of Livingstone's uvulectomy and its indications and outcome, as documented by his own writings. The practice of uvulectomy in indigenous African societies and some contemporary ideas about uvulectomy are also considered in order to try to ascertain why Livingstone elected to undergo this procedure.