Jan de Doot

Jan de Doot

Jan de Doot was a Dutch blacksmith who is famously known for performing surgery on himself in 1651 to remove a bladder stone. His story is a remarkable example of self-surgery in medical history and has been depicted in various forms of art and literature over the years. The event was notably captured in a painting by Carel van Savoyen.

Background

Jan de Doot lived in the 17th century in the Netherlands. At the time, medical knowledge was limited, and professional medical assistance was not as accessible as it is today. Bladder stones were a common ailment, caused by a buildup of minerals in the bladder. The condition was painful and could be life-threatening if not treated. The standard treatment involved a surgical procedure known as lithotomy, which was risky and had a high mortality rate.

Self-Surgery

Dissatisfied with the medical options available and having previously undergone the painful procedure of lithotomy, Jan de Doot decided to take matters into his own hands. Armed with a knife and a pair of forceps, he performed the surgery on himself to remove the bladder stone. Remarkably, he survived the procedure and is said to have lived for many years thereafter. The stone he removed was reportedly the size of a hen's egg.

Legacy

Jan de Doot's story has become a symbol of human endurance and the lengths to which individuals will go to relieve their suffering. It raises questions about the nature of pain, the desperation it can cause, and the extraordinary measures people are willing to take in the face of life-threatening conditions. His self-surgery is often cited in discussions about the history of medicine and the evolution of surgical techniques.

In Art and Literature

The self-surgery of Jan de Doot was immortalized in a painting by Carel van Savoyen, which depicts Jan holding the bladder stone in one hand and the knife in the other, with an expression of relief on his face. This painting has contributed significantly to the legend of Jan de Doot, making his story known to a wider audience.

See Also

• History of surgery
• Bladder stone
• Self-surgery

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  Portrait of Jan de Doot by Carel van Savoyen
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  Kidney stone and knife, 1740, by Jan Lethaus
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  Jan de Doot