Philadelphia’s Pennsylvania Hospital, founded in 1751 by Benjamin Franklin and Dr. Thomas Bond, holds the distinction of being the nation’s first chartered hospital. Beyond its modern medical services, the hospital offers a unique and powerful glimpse into the history of medicine: its remarkably preserved 19th-century operating amphitheater. Visiting this space provides a chilling reminder of surgical practices before the advent of modern technology, sterility, and anesthesia.
Stepping into a Bygone Era: The Operating Amphitheater
Located within the hospital’s historic Pine Building, the operating amphitheater stands as a testament to a different era…..