Eli5: Why didn’t old times amputation use the butcher’s method?

Question

Was just reading on pre 20th century amputations and how they strived to be as fast as possible, cutting through bone and all.
Why didn’t they just amputate at the joint, like a butcher cuts pork or beef? That would have been way faster than sawing off though bone.

In: 8

Answer 1

Back when executions were done by the axe man… well the axe man misses. It can take multiple swings. It’s pretty horrific.

Remember, the guillotine was invented as a more humane version of execution.

So I really don’t want any surgeon swinging at my body like a leg of lamb.