Caesarean

‪In the Shahnameh , Ferdowsi mentions a mobed using a knife of blue steel to deliver the legendary Rustam by caesarean section, and his mother Rudabeh being given a healing drink of milk and plants (cf. haoma) with the dried residue placed on the stitched cut as a dressing. The verse from the Shahnameh reads: Simorgh's (the mythical giant bird) advice to Zal: "Bring a blue-steel dagger and Seek an accomplished surgeon. Calm the lady first with wine to ease her pain and fear, Then let the physician ply his craft And take the lion from its lair By piercing her waist while she is unconscious. Then to stop the bleeding, stitch up the cut. Put trouble, care, and fear aside, and Rub with milk and musk a plant that I will show you And dry them in the shade (cf. haoma). Dress and anoint Rudabeh's wound and Watch her come to life." While every one looked on amazedly With wounded spirit and with bloodshot eyes. Sindukht, the royal maid, Wept tears of blood in torrents, asking: "How can the infant come forth through the side?" There came a mobed, one deft of hand, Who made the moon-faced lady bemused with wine, Then pierced her side while she was all unconscious, And having turned the infant's head aright Delivered her enormous babe uninjured. None had seen a thing so strange. A day and night the mother lay asleep, Bemused, and unconscious. The cut on her side had been sown up And her anguish relieved by the dressing.‬