During the Civil War, the US Army consulted Florence Nightingale about how to manage field hospitals. Survival rates prior to those sanitary reforms were pretty

During the Civil War, the US Army consulted Florence Nightingale about how to manage field hospitals. Survival rates prior to those sanitary reforms were pretty bad due to infections and other sanitary related complications. Anesthetics like sulfuric ether and chloroform, while widely used in surgeries, were not as well understood as today back then. Andean peoples have a biological adaptation to high altitudes. 33% larger lung capacity, increased red blood cell count, increased hemoglobin concentration and about 0.5 gallons of additional blood in average [1]. This promotes healing. The Inca did not have powerful anesthetics. Only preparations based on coca leafs and possibly other ingredients. They were skilled in trepanations, since they often injured their heads in close combat. [1]: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ajhb.22367 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ajhb.22367