ABSTRACT
The growth on the king’s rear was called an anal fistula and is a large painful swelling of blood vessels and tissue. The growth on the king's rear was called an anal fistula and is a large painful swelling of blood vessels and tissue. After more than a year of treatments, the physicians had to admit that nothing they were doing was helping and the fistula was getting larger. During the 1600s, surgeons were considered much lower class than physicians. The Catholic Church warned against cutting into the human body, and physicians never performed any surgery. Besides, surgery was extremely dangerous. The royal physicians, the Minister of State, and the king’s son were all gathered at the king’s bedside to observe the operation. The royal physicians, the Minister of State, and the king's son were all gathered at the king's bedside to observe the operation and back riding his horse in 3 months.
