Russia’s greatest doctor and largest bell are recalled in tonight’s Historama.
19th-century House MD
The great Russian doctor Nikolay Pirogov would have turned 200 today. The man worked extensively in hot spots, and pretty much founded field surgery.
Pirogov was also one of the first European doctors to use ether as an anesthesia. He introduced many more innovations into the medical world – embalming corpses was one of them.
His own body was mummified using the technique and is kept near his birthplace.
Coronation of Tsar Bell
The production of the Tsar Bell in Moscow was completed on this day back in 1735. Located at the Kremlin, the Tsar Bell is the largest bell in the world.
This 200-ton creation was produced under the order of Empress Anna Ioannovna.
Read more about Anna Ionannovna on Russiapedia
It took close to 200 craftsmen to carry out the job. The bell was cast in a 10-meter deep pit reinforced with oak pillars and bricks.
The Tsar Bell’s history is inscribed on its surface along with figures of the empress and Tsar Aleksey Mikhailovich.
In 1937, a fire broke out. Water was thrown on the flames, which caused an eleven-ton chunk of the bell to break off.
Read more on this event in Russian history
Oil giant born
The Russian oil giant Lukoil is celebrating its 20th birthday today.
The firm was founded by a state decree in 1991. A year later it was privatized.
It is now one of Russia’s most famous energy brands and has the largest oil reserves in the world.
Lukoil petrol stations are available in most major cities worldwide.