Introduction and sources -- Natural causes of dismemberment -- Accidental causes for amputation: auto-amputation -- Ritual, punitive, legal and iatrogenic causes -- Cold steel and gunshot causes -- Elective amputation: early evoluation to the end of the 17th century -- Elective amputation: from the 18th century to 1846 -- Elective amputation: from 1846 to recent times -- Interpretations of amputation by society, patients and surgeons -- Surgical instrumentation and equipment -- Indications, timing and procedures -- Stumps: reattachment, management, complications, revision and care for limb-fitting -- Artificial limbs and rehabilitation with contributions by Kingsley Robinson.