#Ming dynasty

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Ancient Surgical Tools May Hold Rare Evidence of Early Anesthesia

Residue from wolfsbane found on Ming dynasty surgical tools could represent one of the oldest known material traces of topical anesthetic use in surgery.

Key Takeaways

Reported wolfsbane residue on Ming dynasty surgical tools may be the oldest material evidence of topical anesthesia.
The finding links a toxic plant compound directly to surgical instruments rather than relying only on written sources.

DT Editorial Team·May 26, 2026·via interestingengineering.com

Residue on Ming-Era Surgical Tools May Be the Oldest Chemical Evidence of a Topical Anesthetic

Researchers analyzing residue from 600-year-old Chinese surgical instruments identified chemical traces consistent with a toxic plant anesthetic, potentially the earliest direct chemical evidence of topical numbing in a医

Key Takeaways

Residue analysis on Ming-era tools suggests use of a topical anesthetic.
Researchers identified chemical traces consistent with processed Chinese wolfsbane.

DT Editorial Team·May 26, 2026·via livescience.com