Lister

Question 1

What was the context of Lister’s research?

Answer 1

• High death rates
• Result from infections during/after operations

Question 2

What antiseptic methods did Lister promote in surgery?

Answer 2

• Carbolic acid
• On hands, instruments, bandages

Question 3

Why did Lister’s idea face resistance initially?

Answer 3

• Doubted existence of invisible microbes
• Inconsistent application to surgery led to failures

Question 4

How did Lister’s breakthrough gain wide acceptance and why was it significant?

Answer 4

• Support of Pasteur’s germ theory
• Validated antiseptic methods
• Lifesaving break with deadly continuity

Question 5

What was the black period in surgery?

Answer 5

• 1846-66
• Death rate increased
• Because operations became longer as the problem of pain was solved
• But problem of infection was not and it was really unhygenuc