People horrified after learning what chainsaws were originally used for

People are freaking out after learning the real reason why chainsaws were invented in the first place, and it's one of those things which, after you know, you really can't unknow.

Now, at this point you're probably thinking 'oh pish posh and piffle, the chainsaw was obviously invented to cut down trees faster' but, dear reader, you'd be wrong.

The true origin of the chainsaw stems from the world of surgery, and it comes a horrifying number of years before anaesthetic was widely used.

What's the symphysiotomy method, you ask? Well, it involves separating the pelvic joint of a woman giving birth to allow the baby to pass through more easily.

Told you it was disturbing.

Doctors initially used rigid saws and knives for the procedure, but Aitken and Jeffray created a tool with a fine, serrated link chain to help cut through the joint, and the creation later became known as the Aitkens flexible chainsaw.

Obviously the device has been developed a lot since then, but that's where it all started, and learning that has left a lot of people horrified.

Other internet users used words to express their horror, with one relying heavily on the Caps Lock button as they wrote: "CHILDBIRTH?! IT WASNT MADE FOR CUTTING THINGS?! BUT MADE FOR C SECTIONS?!? AHHH HOW DID I NOT KNOW."

Another disturbed viewer commented: "ok yeah usually im [sic] not phased by these but that one was a mistake and i shall never use a chainsaw again without remembering this."

While the information will, unfortunately, live rent-free in our brains for the rest of our lives, we can at least rest assured that the slow and painful symphysiotomy method is no longer used in modern medicine, so you won't have to worry about a doctor firing up a chainsaw while you're in labour.

The process is painful enough without getting giant saws involved.