In 1806, Jeffray published 'Cases of the Excision of Carious Joints by H. Jeffray claimed to have conceived the idea of the chain saw independently about that time, but he was not able to have it produced until 1790. It was illustrated in the second edition of Aitken's Principles of Midwifery, or Puerperal Medicine (1785) in the context of a pelviotomy. 1783–1785) by two Scottish doctors, John Aitken and James Jeffray, for symphysiotomy and excision of diseased bone, respectively. A 'flexible saw', consisting of a fine serrated link chain held between two wooden handles, was pioneered in the late 18th century (c.
The origin of chain saws in surgery is debated.
