During the 17th century lived King Louis XIV. In the year 1685, he developed a swelling in his bum which became an abscess and finally a fistula.

The king was rumoured to have bathed only twice in his lifetime because water was supposed to cause infections! In desperation, the services of the barber-surgeons were sought.

Barber-surgeons were barbers who performed minor operations. Charles- Francois Felix, who was the barber-surgeon, prepared for 6 months and developed tools for his tryst with glory or despair.

He operated on the king in November 1686 and the operation was a success. The surgeon became famous and also prosperous. The courage of both the king and the barber gave a new respectability to surgeons and eventually led to the establishment of the royal academy of surgery.  

(An anal fistula is an abnormal communication between the anal canal and the skin. It occurs due to infection of anal glands.)