Health And The People: Joseph Lister’s Germ Theorem

Question 1

When did Pasteur’s germ theorem come to the attention of British doctors?

Answer 1

Late 1860s

Question 2

What was listers antiseptic approach?

Answer 2

Spray carbolic acid on the surgeons hands and operating areas
Soak instruments and bandages in carbolic acid

Question 3

What did lister do to Jamie Greenless?

Answer 3

Mended Jamie’s fractured leg
Skin on Jamie’s leg was broken
Lister set the bones and used dressing that had been soaked in carbolic acid
Jamie walked out of hospital 6 weeks later

Question 4

What was listers conclusion?

Answer 4

Microbes in air causes the infections and not spontaneous generation

Question 5

When did lister publish his book?

Answer 5

1867

Question 6

What book did lister publish?

Answer 6

The results of 11 cases of compound fracture

Question 7

What did listers book explain?

Answer 7

His techniques in lectures and publicised Pasteur’s germ theorem through his explanation of the antiseptic technique

Question 8

What was the reaction to lister’s work?

Answer 8

His ideas were criticised
Public health debate focused on chemical causes of infection
Listers biological explanation was unfamiliar