Chainsaws were initially created for a completely different purpose than what we use them for today. Their original design was intended to assist in childbirth.

If you've ever wondered, 'Why were chainsaws invented?' you'll be surprised to discover that their initial purpose was not for woodcutting, but to help in childbirth.

Dr. Anthony Tizzano, an obstetrician-gynecologist from Ohio, explains that chainsaws were originally used for a gruesome but necessary task. Tizzano, who owns one of the largest private collections of Ob/Gyn artifacts, houses it at the Tizzano Museum of Obstetrics, Gynecology, Medical Antiques & Women's Health History.

Although it may sound horrific, the medical chainsaw that was invented during that era served a crucial life-saving purpose in childbirth, especially during obstructed labor when safer alternatives were unavailable, long before anyone realized its potential in the timber industry.

Birthing Babies in the Olden Days

Despite the fact that women have been giving birth since the dawn of humanity, labor was particularly difficult in the past, long before modern medical advancements like antibiotics, anesthesia, and essential hygiene practices such as hand-washing.

Complications during childbirth in earlier times could be fatal. A caesarian section was rarely an option, as it was considered too dangerous for both mother and child due to the high risk of infection. As a result, doctors had to resort to alternative methods.

In the 1770s, French medical doctor Jean-René Sigault proposed a potential solution for delivering babies stuck in the birth canal. Sigault was influenced by the writings of Severin Pineau, a French surgeon from the late 1500s, who had documented a "diastasis of the pubis" (separation or dislocation of the pubic symphysis or joint) in a pregnant woman who had been hanged.

Sigault's proposed method was to surgically separate the pelvic joint, thereby creating a wider opening in the pelvis. If successful, this would enable the baby to pass through the birth canal.

In October 1777, Sigault and his assistant Alphonse le Roy performed the procedure on their first patient. Madame Souchot, a 40-year-old woman with a contracted pelvis caused by rickets, was unable to deliver vaginally. Having already lost four children, she was deemed unable to bear live children without a cesarean section, though this would likely have been fatal.

With little to lose, Sigault proceeded to cut through Madame Souchot's pubic joint, successfully carrying out the first symphysiotomy. This life-saving surgery preserved both the mother and baby's lives, and symphysiotomies soon became a standard procedure for obstructed labor.

Two Scottish Doctors Improve the Symphysiotomy

In 1785, Scottish doctors and obstetricians John Aitken and James Jeffray made improvements to the symphysiotomy technique by using a tool that would later be known as Aitken's flexible chainsaw.

This cutting instrument was specifically crafted to make the removal of a woman's pelvic bone simpler and quicker during childbirth. The flexible chainsaw also reduced damage to surrounding tissues compared to the rigid saws and sharp knives that were typically used for the procedure.

The Aitken's flexible chainsaw, which Tizzano describes as a "unique and rare" artifact in his collection of vintage surgical instruments, consisted of a fine serrated chain with teardrop-shaped handles at each end. One handle was detachable so that a blunt-pointed needle could be attached to the end of the chain.

The needle was used to guide the chain behind the pubic bone in preparation for the symphysiotomy. The surgeon would then move their hands back and forth, allowing the chain to "saw" through the pelvic bone more efficiently and with greater precision than a sharp knife.

In the 1890s, Italian obstetrician Leonardo Gigli invented the twisted wire saw, which became known as the Gigli chainsaw. This tool was similar in function to Aiken's saw but featured T-shaped handles that were easier to grip. It also had a chain made of twisted wire with finely sharp teeth that were easier to position.

By the turn of the 20th century, the practice of symphysiotomy began to fall out of favor as medical advancements in procedures, hospital hygiene, and general anesthesia made C-sections safer. The Gigli twisted wire saw was used for amputating diseased bone and performing cutting operations.

Today, amputations are carried out using modern power tools. However, flexible chainsaws such as the Gigli wire are still used in certain medical procedures where precision and control are critical.

Bernhard Heine's Version of the First Chainsaw

In 1830, orthopedic technician turned surgeon Bernhard Heine revolutionized the medical and physical sciences with his creation of a new medical chainsaw. Having designed and built many of his own tools over the years, Heine's chain osteotome became his most famous invention.

Similar in function to today's chainsaw (which bears some resemblance to Heine's chain osteotome), the instrument featured small teeth on the outside and grooves on the inside that corresponded to spurs on the motive wheel, according to Tizzano's 1889 copy of George Tiemann & Co.'s Surgical Instruments catalog. It also had a thin, knife-like plate with deep longitudinal grooves, extending over the saw and the motive wheel.

Heine's osteotome was operated with a hand crank and could cut through bone much more swiftly than traditional methods, sparing patients from the painful blows of a hammer and chisel or the vibrations of a typical amputation saw. This was particularly beneficial since anesthesia was seldom used during that era.

Symphysiotomies were still performed at the time, but Tizzano assures that the osteotome was never employed for this procedure, as the surgery required an approach that Heine's version of the chainsaw could not provide.

The osteotome's adjustability made it well-suited for other sensitive surgeries. By configuring the guards on the chainsaw, surgeons could limit the area of the patient that required cutting, preventing unnecessary damage to soft tissues. This feature enabled procedures like craniotomies to be performed without fracturing bones or harming surrounding tissues, including the brain.

Despite its advantages, the osteotome had some downsides. It was an expensive instrument, priced at $300 in Tiemann's 1872 catalog, whereas standard medical chainsaws cost only $5. Today, antique Heine osteotomes in pristine, cased condition can fetch over $30,000, according to Tizzano. Moreover, mastering its use required considerable skill, and Heine was one of the few surgeons able to do so.

Andreas Stihl Invents the Electric Chainsaw

It took some time for anyone to realize that a tool designed to assist in childbirth could be adapted to make tree felling much simpler. In 1897, inventor and naturalist John Muir is often credited with making this connection. However, his invention was a massive mechanical machine that weighed several hundred pounds and needed a crane to function. Due to its impractical nature, it failed to achieve commercial success.

In 1905, Samuel J. Bens, a logger from San Francisco, applied for a patent for his "endless-chain saw," claiming it was inspired by Heine's original osteotome. However, like its predecessor, Bens' device was large, required multiple operators, and proved impractical. It wasn't until more than ten years later that Canadian James Shand patented the first truly portable chainsaw—though 'portable' was still an exaggeration due to its bulky design.

In 1926, German mechanic Andreas Stihl introduced the first electric chainsaw for logging, followed by a gas-powered version three years later. However, both versions still required more than one person to operate.

The first chainsaw that could be operated by a single person wouldn't appear until the 1950s. This development paved the way for the modern chainsaw, and as they say, the rest is history.