I'm having #breastcancer surgery on Saturday. As a medical historian, I cant help but think of women in the past.

This is one of six portraits depicting "Gentlefolk of Leeds Afflicted with Disease.” Here you see Mrs. Prince of Coborough Street. Part of her breast has been surgically removed & the wound is open. This operation would have been performed without anesthetic. This was not only painful, but also dangerous in an era before surgeons understood germs.

#histodons #history