#bone saws

Trump attends the G20 summit and runs into his old buddy Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman Al Saud.

Bone saws from the 17th and 18th centuries

Bone saws were some of the most commonly-used medical instruments during the Renaissance, as amputation was one of the most common surgical procedures performed.

Unfortunately for the patients, just like so much else during the 17th and 18th centuries, style and status was a huge thing for the surgeons, like so many other elites in society. Since the surgeries were often performed in surgical theaters, a great way for surgeons to show off their status was with ornately decorated surgical instruments - and the bone saws were often the most ornate of all.

Aside from being uncomfortable to hold, the gilt or carved cedar or ebony handles, and the ornately-embellished frames, were perfect places for bacteria to fester, and to transfer from patient-to-patient. The more elite the surgeon, the fancier the saw - and the deadlier the consequences.