Chiurgeon

This article is about the Inquisition medicae; for the Chaos artifact, see Chirurgeon (Fabius Bile).

I pray to slow the blood and staunch the wound.

- Part of the Imperial Catechism of Healing^[4]

Chiurgeons (also spelled Chirurgeons), or Cruciators^[13] are medical and anatomical specialists across the Imperium.^[1]

The secrets of the human form are a closely-guarded lore within the Imperium, held by those who hoard knowledge of the sacred human form.^[12a] They across various organisation such as the Inquisition, Imperial Guard, Orders Hospitaller, Officio Medicae,^[1] Adeptus Mechanicus Biologis, Feral World shaman-healers, unguilded hab-docs, or personal medilords to spire rulers.^[12a]

Overview

Medicae is a broad term used in the Imperium that refers to First Aid, Extended Care, Diagnosis, and Chem-Use. These skills are also needed when attaching cybernetics to an individual.^[12b]

Often serving in the retinues of Inquisitors, Chiurgeons specialize not only in the art of healing but also the art of repentance, interrogation, and the yielding of information through torture. Knowing the intricacies of human anatomy, they know the exact amount of punishment they can inflict on their subjects before it expires. They can inflict the maximum amount of pain for the least amount of effort, and then nurse their subject's shattered body back to health in order to begin the process again.^[1]

Field Chiurgeon

Imperial Guard Field Chirurgeon^[2]

Field Chiurgeons are the field medics used by the Imperial Guard.

A field chirurgeon is first and foremost a line trooper, but one who has received additional training in order to render medical aid to his comrades when needed. In particular, the field chirurgeon’s expertise lies in keeping his fellow soldiers standing during a given battle so that the entire squad can survive.^[2]

Highly experienced Imperial Guard regiments, those that have been operational for many years and whose members are considered veterans, are likely to field a great number of field chirurgeons in their ranks.^[2]

Medics of the Imperial Guard are often issued a pocket edition of the Liber Anatomicus. It contains a summarised version of the larger tome's knowledge of Human anatomy, surgical practices, and field medicae.^[11]

Catachan Jungle Fighter regiments are blessed with a great number of skilled Field Chirurgeons. Due to the hostile nature of their homeworld, many were already skilled in combat medicine before being recruited, and well able to perform their duties on the battlefield.^[3]

Known Chiurgeons

• Aevos Jovian
• Ana Curth^[7]
• Estaban — personal physician for Rogue Trader House Arcadius^[5]
• Guylat^[6b]
• Magir Linschoten — chief chirurgeon of Aog's largest mercy house Alburae^[8]
• Tolin Dorden^[6a]
• Oska Krall — Barber-Chirurgeon and Augmeticist aboard the Rogue Trader ship the Mourningstar^[9]

Images

• 

  Imperial Guard Medic^[3]

• 

  Vostroyan Medic^[4]

• 

  Solar Auxilia Medicae team with patient^[10]

• 

  Medical doctor Tolin Dorden

See also

• Augmeticist
• Rejuvenat Adept
• Dok
• Biophagus
• Path of the Healer
• Medikit

Sources

• 1: Codex: Witch Hunters (3rd Edition), pg. 16
• 2: Only War: Hammer of the Emperor, pg. 66
• 3: Warhammer Community: New Year, New Bayonets – The Cadians Get an Upgrade Sprue Crammed with Characterful Components (posted 4/1/2023) (last accessed 5/1/2023)
• 4: Only War Core Rulebook, pg. 78
• 5: Star of Damocles (Novel), Chapter Seven
• 6: First and Only (Novel):
  • 6a: Part Five, Section Four
  • 6b: Part Six, Section Eleven
• 7: Necropolis (Novel), Chapter Two
• 8: Black Crusade Core Rulebook, pg. 13
• 9: Warhammer 40,000: Darktide
• 10: Warhammer Webstore : Solar Auxilia Surgeon-Primus Aevos Jovan & Medicae Orderlies (saved archive)
• 11: Imperium Maledictum: Macharian Requisition Guide, pg. 16
• 12: Dark Heresy Second Edition Core Rulebook:
  • 12a: pg. 64
  • 12b: pg. 108-109
• 13: Imperium Maledictum: Inquisition Player's Guide, pg. 57