The history of surgery is painted in blood. Even in the 21st century nobody likes going under the knife, but things could be much worse. We have no idea how lucky we are to be living in an age of modern surgery, when doctors are able to control the three traditional enemies of their patients—pain, infection and shock.

This episode of Kill or Cure traces the history of each battle—the trials and tribulations, brilliant successes and doomed failures. The inner secrets of the human body are laid bare, as we travel from the blood-soaked operating theatres of Victorian England to the jungles of Guatemala; and meet grave-robbers, psychic surgeons and space-going robots. The journey is not for the faint-hearted…