[The elderly and surgery in the Middle Ages]

Until the end of the nineteenth century, the elderly were considered to be high risk patients, on whom surgeons wishing to preserve their reputation should not operate. A study of the works of four medieval surgeons, Paul ofAegina, Henri de Mondeville, Guillaume de Salicet and Guy de Chauliac, discloses few references to the elderly. Despite risks associated with their fragile constitution and their age, it seems that such patients did at times undergo surgery. Bleeding was not used for patients over 70 years of age and dosage of drugs was also adjusted for age. Attempts to modify the signs of old age were probably an important and lucrative part of surgical activity.