Inthelate16thcentury,revoltbrokeoutintheNetherlandsagainstSpanishrule.Medicalknowledgewastheninitsinfancy,andsurgeonsbelievedthathumanfatwasanefficacioussalveforwoundedmen.Aftertheill-fatedSpanishsiegeofOstendin1602,duringwhichover2,000Spaniardswerekilledinasinglenight,thegroundwasstrewneverywherewitharms,handsandlegs.Thisprovedanirresistiblesourceofrawmaterialforthemedicalfraternity,whoflockedfromthecityafterdarktoscrapethefatfromthebodiesandbringitbackinbags.