Medical and Surgical History
Q1. The "Hippocratic Oath" is a foundational ethical document in medicine. Which of the
following principles is explicitly stated in the original Hippocratic Oath?
A) "First, do no harm" (Primum non nocere)
B) "I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients according to my ability and my
judgment and never do harm to anyone"
C) "The patient must have autonomy in all decisions"
D) "I will not perform surgery on patients suffering from stones, but will leave this to be done by
men who are practitioners of this work"
E) Both B and D
Detailed Answer:
Correct Answer: E
The Hippocratic Oath explicitly states: "I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients
according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone" (B). It also states: "I will
not use the knife, not even on sufferers from stone, but will withdraw in favor of such men as
are engaged in this work" (D), which reflects the historical separation between physicians and
surgeons. "First, do no harm" (A) is a later paraphrase often attributed to Hippocrates but is not
in the original oath. Autonomy (C) is a modern bioethical principle.
Q2. Which ancient physician is credited with creating the "Canon of Medicine," a
comprehensive medical encyclopedia that was used as a standard textbook in both the
Islamic world and Europe for centuries?
A) Hippocrates
B) Galen
C) Avicenna (Ibn Sina)
D) Rhazes (Al-Razi)
E) Abu al-Qasim (Albucasis)
Detailed Answer:
Correct Answer: C
Avicenna (Ibn Sina) wrote the "Canon of Medicine" (Al-Qanun fi al-Tibb), a monumental work
that synthesized Greek, Islamic, and Indian medical knowledge. It was the standard medical
textbook in Europe and the Islamic world from the 11th to the 17th century. Galen (B) was a
Greek physician whose works were foundational. Rhazes (D) wrote a comprehensive medical
text but not the Canon. Albucasis (E) was a surgeon.
,Q3. A surgeon is reviewing the history of surgical anesthesia. Which surgeon is credited with
performing the first successful public demonstration of ether anesthesia in 1846?
A) Crawford Long
B) William T.G. Morton
C) John Snow
D) Horace Wells
E) Joseph Lister
Detailed Answer:
Correct Answer: B
William T.G. Morton, a dentist, performed the first successful public demonstration of ether
anesthesia at Massachusetts General Hospital on October 16, 1846, in the "Ether Dome."
Crawford Long (A) used ether earlier (1842) but did not publicize it. Horace Wells (D) used
nitrous oxide. John Snow (C) was an anesthesiologist who advanced the field. Joseph Lister (E)
introduced antiseptic surgery.
Q4. The introduction of antiseptic surgery in the 19th century dramatically reduced surgical
mortality. Which surgeon is credited with this innovation using carbolic acid (phenol)?
A) Ignaz Semmelweis
B) Joseph Lister
C) Louis Pasteur
D) Robert Koch
E) Theodor Billroth
Detailed Answer:
Correct Answer: B
Joseph Lister introduced the use of carbolic acid (phenol) as an antiseptic for surgical wounds,
instruments, and the surgical field, dramatically reducing postoperative infections. Semmelweis
(A) introduced handwashing with chlorinated lime to reduce puerperal fever but in obstetrics.
Pasteur (C) and Koch (D) were microbiologists. Billroth (E) was a pioneer in gastric surgery.
Q5. The "Father of Modern Surgery" is a title often given to a 16th-century French surgeon
who reintroduced the ligature of arteries, abandoning the use of cautery for amputation
hemostasis. Who was he?
A) Ambroise Paré
B) Guy de Chauliac
C) Andreas Vesalius
,D) John Hunter
E) William Halsted
Detailed Answer:
Correct Answer: A
Ambroise Paré (1510–1590) is considered the "Father of Modern Surgery." He reintroduced the
ligature (tying off vessels) for hemostasis during amputations, replacing the use of hot cautery.
He is also famous for his quote, "I dressed him, God healed him." Guy de Chauliac (B) was a
medieval surgeon. Vesalius (C) was an anatomist. Hunter (D) advanced surgical physiology.
Halsted (E) introduced aseptic techniques and surgical residency.
Q6. The "Halstedian principles" of surgery, which revolutionized surgical technique, include all
of the following EXCEPT:
A) Gentle handling of tissues
B) Meticulous hemostasis
C) Preservation of blood supply
D) Use of electrocautery for all dissections
E) Aseptic technique
Detailed Answer:
Correct Answer: D
William Halsted (1852–1922) introduced principles of aseptic surgery, gentle tissue handling,
meticulous hemostasis, preservation of blood supply, and closure without tension.
Electrocautery (D) was not part of Halsted's original principles; it was developed later. Halsted
also pioneered the use of rubber gloves.
Q7. The "Fleming's discovery" of penicillin in 1928 marked the beginning of the antibiotic era.
Which of the following statements about this discovery is correct?
A) It was discovered during research on influenza
B) It was discovered while Fleming was studying Staphylococcus aureus
C) The mold that produced penicillin was identified as Aspergillus
D) Fleming immediately developed penicillin for clinical use
E) Penicillin was first used clinically in 1928
Detailed Answer:
Correct Answer: B
Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928 while studying Staphylococcus aureus, when a
contaminating mold (Penicillium notatum) inhibited bacterial growth. The mold was Penicillium,
, not Aspergillus (C). Fleming did not immediately develop it for clinical use (D); that was done by
Florey and Chain in the 1940s. Clinical use began in the 1940s (E).
Q8. The "Edinburgh School of Surgery" in the 18th century produced many famous surgeons.
Which of the following was NOT a member of this school?
A) John Hunter
B) William Hunter
C) Benjamin Bell
D) William Cheselden
E) Robert Liston
Detailed Answer:
Correct Answer: D
William Cheselden (1688–1752) was a London surgeon, not a member of the Edinburgh School.
The Hunter brothers (John and William), Benjamin Bell, and Robert Liston were all associated
with Edinburgh. John Hunter later moved to London but was trained in Edinburgh.
Q9. The "Battle of the Gloves" in surgical history refers to the introduction of which practice?
A) The use of sterile gloves
B) The use of rubber gloves for surgical procedures
C) The introduction of double-gloving
D) The argument over glove material
E) The use of gloves to prevent latex allergy
Detailed Answer:
Correct Answer: B
The "Battle of the Gloves" refers to the introduction and acceptance of rubber surgical gloves,
pioneered by William Halsted and his chief scrub nurse Caroline Hampton (who had a skin
reaction to disinfectants). Halsted had the Goodyear Rubber Company make the first rubber
gloves. Gloves became standard for asepsis.
Q10. The concept of "surgical audit" was pioneered by which surgeon who introduced the
systematic collection of surgical outcomes?
A) Ernest Codman
B) William Halsted
C) John Hunter
Q1. The "Hippocratic Oath" is a foundational ethical document in medicine. Which of the
following principles is explicitly stated in the original Hippocratic Oath?
A) "First, do no harm" (Primum non nocere)
B) "I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients according to my ability and my
judgment and never do harm to anyone"
C) "The patient must have autonomy in all decisions"
D) "I will not perform surgery on patients suffering from stones, but will leave this to be done by
men who are practitioners of this work"
E) Both B and D
Detailed Answer:
Correct Answer: E
The Hippocratic Oath explicitly states: "I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients
according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone" (B). It also states: "I will
not use the knife, not even on sufferers from stone, but will withdraw in favor of such men as
are engaged in this work" (D), which reflects the historical separation between physicians and
surgeons. "First, do no harm" (A) is a later paraphrase often attributed to Hippocrates but is not
in the original oath. Autonomy (C) is a modern bioethical principle.
Q2. Which ancient physician is credited with creating the "Canon of Medicine," a
comprehensive medical encyclopedia that was used as a standard textbook in both the
Islamic world and Europe for centuries?
A) Hippocrates
B) Galen
C) Avicenna (Ibn Sina)
D) Rhazes (Al-Razi)
E) Abu al-Qasim (Albucasis)
Detailed Answer:
Correct Answer: C
Avicenna (Ibn Sina) wrote the "Canon of Medicine" (Al-Qanun fi al-Tibb), a monumental work
that synthesized Greek, Islamic, and Indian medical knowledge. It was the standard medical
textbook in Europe and the Islamic world from the 11th to the 17th century. Galen (B) was a
Greek physician whose works were foundational. Rhazes (D) wrote a comprehensive medical
text but not the Canon. Albucasis (E) was a surgeon.
,Q3. A surgeon is reviewing the history of surgical anesthesia. Which surgeon is credited with
performing the first successful public demonstration of ether anesthesia in 1846?
A) Crawford Long
B) William T.G. Morton
C) John Snow
D) Horace Wells
E) Joseph Lister
Detailed Answer:
Correct Answer: B
William T.G. Morton, a dentist, performed the first successful public demonstration of ether
anesthesia at Massachusetts General Hospital on October 16, 1846, in the "Ether Dome."
Crawford Long (A) used ether earlier (1842) but did not publicize it. Horace Wells (D) used
nitrous oxide. John Snow (C) was an anesthesiologist who advanced the field. Joseph Lister (E)
introduced antiseptic surgery.
Q4. The introduction of antiseptic surgery in the 19th century dramatically reduced surgical
mortality. Which surgeon is credited with this innovation using carbolic acid (phenol)?
A) Ignaz Semmelweis
B) Joseph Lister
C) Louis Pasteur
D) Robert Koch
E) Theodor Billroth
Detailed Answer:
Correct Answer: B
Joseph Lister introduced the use of carbolic acid (phenol) as an antiseptic for surgical wounds,
instruments, and the surgical field, dramatically reducing postoperative infections. Semmelweis
(A) introduced handwashing with chlorinated lime to reduce puerperal fever but in obstetrics.
Pasteur (C) and Koch (D) were microbiologists. Billroth (E) was a pioneer in gastric surgery.
Q5. The "Father of Modern Surgery" is a title often given to a 16th-century French surgeon
who reintroduced the ligature of arteries, abandoning the use of cautery for amputation
hemostasis. Who was he?
A) Ambroise Paré
B) Guy de Chauliac
C) Andreas Vesalius
,D) John Hunter
E) William Halsted
Detailed Answer:
Correct Answer: A
Ambroise Paré (1510–1590) is considered the "Father of Modern Surgery." He reintroduced the
ligature (tying off vessels) for hemostasis during amputations, replacing the use of hot cautery.
He is also famous for his quote, "I dressed him, God healed him." Guy de Chauliac (B) was a
medieval surgeon. Vesalius (C) was an anatomist. Hunter (D) advanced surgical physiology.
Halsted (E) introduced aseptic techniques and surgical residency.
Q6. The "Halstedian principles" of surgery, which revolutionized surgical technique, include all
of the following EXCEPT:
A) Gentle handling of tissues
B) Meticulous hemostasis
C) Preservation of blood supply
D) Use of electrocautery for all dissections
E) Aseptic technique
Detailed Answer:
Correct Answer: D
William Halsted (1852–1922) introduced principles of aseptic surgery, gentle tissue handling,
meticulous hemostasis, preservation of blood supply, and closure without tension.
Electrocautery (D) was not part of Halsted's original principles; it was developed later. Halsted
also pioneered the use of rubber gloves.
Q7. The "Fleming's discovery" of penicillin in 1928 marked the beginning of the antibiotic era.
Which of the following statements about this discovery is correct?
A) It was discovered during research on influenza
B) It was discovered while Fleming was studying Staphylococcus aureus
C) The mold that produced penicillin was identified as Aspergillus
D) Fleming immediately developed penicillin for clinical use
E) Penicillin was first used clinically in 1928
Detailed Answer:
Correct Answer: B
Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928 while studying Staphylococcus aureus, when a
contaminating mold (Penicillium notatum) inhibited bacterial growth. The mold was Penicillium,
, not Aspergillus (C). Fleming did not immediately develop it for clinical use (D); that was done by
Florey and Chain in the 1940s. Clinical use began in the 1940s (E).
Q8. The "Edinburgh School of Surgery" in the 18th century produced many famous surgeons.
Which of the following was NOT a member of this school?
A) John Hunter
B) William Hunter
C) Benjamin Bell
D) William Cheselden
E) Robert Liston
Detailed Answer:
Correct Answer: D
William Cheselden (1688–1752) was a London surgeon, not a member of the Edinburgh School.
The Hunter brothers (John and William), Benjamin Bell, and Robert Liston were all associated
with Edinburgh. John Hunter later moved to London but was trained in Edinburgh.
Q9. The "Battle of the Gloves" in surgical history refers to the introduction of which practice?
A) The use of sterile gloves
B) The use of rubber gloves for surgical procedures
C) The introduction of double-gloving
D) The argument over glove material
E) The use of gloves to prevent latex allergy
Detailed Answer:
Correct Answer: B
The "Battle of the Gloves" refers to the introduction and acceptance of rubber surgical gloves,
pioneered by William Halsted and his chief scrub nurse Caroline Hampton (who had a skin
reaction to disinfectants). Halsted had the Goodyear Rubber Company make the first rubber
gloves. Gloves became standard for asepsis.
Q10. The concept of "surgical audit" was pioneered by which surgeon who introduced the
systematic collection of surgical outcomes?
A) Ernest Codman
B) William Halsted
C) John Hunter
