Buck B A
West J Med. 1982 Mar;136(3):265-9.
Archaeologists have shown that ancient man developed the ability to produce cutting blades of an extreme degree of sharpness from volcanic glass. The finest of these prismatic blades were produced in Mesoamerica about 2,500 years ago. The technique of production of these blades was rediscovered 12 years ago by Dr. Don Crabtree, who suggested possible uses for the blades in modern surgery. Blades produced by Dr. Crabtree have been used in experimental microsurgery with excellent results. Animal experiments have shown the tensile strength of obsidian produced wounds to be equal to or greater than that of wounds produced by steel scalpels after 14 days of healing. We have been able to demonstrate neither flaking of glass blades into the wounds nor any foreign body reaction in healed wounds. Skin incisions in human patients have likewise healed well without complications. The prismatic glass blade is infinitely sharper than a honed steel edge, and these blades can be produced in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. It is therefore suggested that this type of blade may find an appropriate use in special areas of modern surgery.
考古学家已经证明，古代人类就已具备用火山玻璃制造出极其锋利的切割刀片的能力。其中最精良的棱柱状刀片是大约2500年前在中美洲制造的。12年前，唐·克拉布特里博士重新发现了制造这些刀片的技术，他还提出了这些刀片在现代外科手术中的可能用途。克拉布特里博士制造的刀片已用于实验性显微手术，效果极佳。动物实验表明，黑曜石造成的伤口在愈合14天后的抗拉强度等于或大于钢制手术刀造成的伤口。我们既未发现玻璃刀片碎片进入伤口，也未发现愈合伤口中有任何异物反应。人类患者的皮肤切口同样愈合良好，没有并发症。棱柱状玻璃刀片比磨过的钢刃要锋利得多，而且这些刀片可以制成各种形状和尺寸。因此，有人认为这类刀片可能会在现代外科手术的特殊领域找到合适的用途。
