Amputations; "To See My Tears and Hear My Deep-Fet Groans. the Ruthless Flint Doth Cut My Tender Feet," - William Shakespeare (1564-1616), English Playwright King Henry the Sixth, Part 2 (1591) Act II SC IV L. 37-38

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Byline: Dr. Brix Pujalte Jr.

A FEW weeks back, the movie "300" thrilled many and became an instant cult film. It was a high-tech, visually stunning interpretation of the Battle of Thermophylae (480 B.C.). King Leonidas and his Spartans fought so fiercely against the invading Persian army of Xerxes that severed limbs littered the battle grounds. As a doctor, it reminded me of amputations and realized that I have never written about this common procedure.

Definition. "Amputation" comes from the Latin "amputare" and it means "to cut or prune". Anyone, of course, can slash and cut. One needs only to glance at any tabloid for the latest "chop-chop" murder. Now it would be the surgeon who cuts purposively. …