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They are only barbaric if you know of a better alternative.

Barbarism is bad behaviour when the better alternative is already known.

We need to be careful when we judge the past to judge it on the facts known at the time.

So, I agree that they will look barbaric once a pill free of side effects can cure cancer but it will only look barbaric, not have been barbaric.

So will conventional surgery (or, as Dr. McCoy referred to it, "cutting and sewing people like garments").

I thought the same but those do work at some level.