Hospital ward in the 16th century, illustration. This woodcut by the Swiss-German celebrity artist, Jost Amman, (1539-1591) illustrates one of the typical sixteenth century hospital wards that existed in European towns and cities. Possible activities may be as follows: in the foreground of the ward, three physicians are apparently discussing and recommending treatments for patients. Another physician to the left (with an assistant) is amputating the leg of a patient who has to endure the pain. To the right is a patient also enduring the pain of a surgical operation from the 5th physician. Further away are bedridden patients, a female patient is about to be cared for by a female nurse. Physicians had started to visit patients in the hospitals, where they carried out observations and recommended treatments. A number of patients with different ailments were treated in the same ward causing the spreading of diseases.