This book deals with the history of surgery in Papua New Guinea from the early 1800’s until the beginning of the 21st Century. It spans the period from the first European contact to the emergence of highly educated sub-specialist national surgeons. It tells the story from the first impressions of ships’ surgeons to the introduction and development of surgery. Between 1870 and 1950 the country and the lives of its peoples changed greatly as a result of exploration, evangelisation, colonisation and war.

The history traces the surgical challenges encountered as well as the colourful characters who provided the health services run by missions, companies, governments and armies. After World War II PNG progressed politically from an Australian Administered Territory to become an Independent Nation. Within a generation it had trained its own doctors and surgeons.

The history is set within the context of tropical pathologies, introduced diseases, surgical progress and the lives of the medics who have contributed to the Stori bilong kamapim long dokta bilong katim man (The history of surgery).”