chirurgy

Chirurgy is the art and science of surgical treatment and operative procedures. The term is largely archaic in modern English, having been supplanted by surgery. It derives from the Latin chirurgia, in turn from the Greek kheirourgia, from kheir "hand" and ergon "work." A chirurgeon is a surgeon, particularly in historical contexts.

Historically, chirurgy split from general medicine in medieval and early modern Europe, with barber-surgeons and other practitioners performing operative care. Techniques were rudimentary, and outcomes often poor by contemporary standards. The discipline evolved slowly through the Middle Ages and Renaissance, laying foundations for formal medical training and professional standards.

In the 19th century, surgical practice was transformed by anesthesia and asepsis, enabling longer, more complex operations. The development of antiseptic methods by Joseph Lister, improvements in sterilization, and advances in anesthesia, imaging, and postoperative care contributed to rapid expansion of surgical capabilities. The modern field known as surgery encompasses numerous subspecialties, including general surgery, orthopedics, neurosurgery, cardiovascular surgery, and more, employing technology such as microsurgery, laparoscopy, and organ transplantation.

Today, chirurgy is rarely used as a technical term in clinical settings, but appears in historical writings, literature, and some dictionaries to denote surgery or the craft of the surgeon. Modern nomenclature has shifted toward surgery and more precise subspecialty names, while the historical term remains of interest in the study of medical history.