The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-03-07
presents the following synopsis of the

theory;
First. That in the dust of the at
mosphere, and in matter with which
1t is in contact, there are the germs
of minute organisms, which under
favorable circumstances induce pu-
trefaction in fluids and solids capable
OF that change, in thesa manner as
the yeast plant occasions the alcoholic
fermentation in saccharine solution.
Second. That putrefaction is not
occasioned by the chemical action of
oxygen or other gas, by the fermenta-
tive agency Of these organisms.
Third. That the vitality or potency
of the germs can be destroyed by
heat or by various substances, which
are called in surgery antiSeptics.
Lester himself describes his system
as s'the dealing with surgical cases in
such away as to prevent the introduce
ton Of putrefactive influences into
wounds
The general reader will not demand
the whole details of the proper ap-
plication of this treatment, which are
presented with much care by DR.. Weir.
The leading points however, may be
interesting:
The antiseptic medium employed is
carbolic acid, used in solution OF
various strengths. The operation is
performed while the air surrounding
the limb is impregnated with carbolic
acid by means Of a spraying instru
ment, working on the same plan as
the well known perfumery spray.
Carb0lic acid is forced into tie
wound. and during a surgical opera
ton, such as the amputation of a
limb, all the cut and exposed parts
and all textures and substances used
for dressings or coverings, are
thoroughly treated with the carbolic
spray.
| The catgut ligatures and silk
sutures are also carbolized and even
the hands of the surgeon treated with
the spray.
Three solutions Of carbolic acid are
employed to 40 for the protective
layers, l to 80 for the spray, and tt
20 for solution in which are i'm
mersed the sponges, instruments and
teeth Of forceps.
This solution is also used to wash the
epidermis of the patient adjacent tC
the wound, the hands and particularly
the finger ends of the surgeon.
| To work the spray, Mr.. Lester has
| devised a steam spray apparatus
operated by a spirit lamp.
| The results that have been obtained
from this mode of dressing wounds
must necessarily be of absorbing
interest to surgeons. DR.. w. IL
Van Buren,, of this city, in recent
address to the students at Bellevue
stated that he considered it the
greatest advance in surgery since the
introduction of anasthetics.
The experience of DR.. Weir com
prises about five months Of hospitabls
practice, and he considers it the
duty Of every one having the charge
Of hospital cases to diligently try it
/ In Chambers Street Hospital in II
cases were failures; an explanation
was however. found for this apparent
| ly moderate success, it having beer
found that from motives Of econom,
the larger piece of gauze had been
washed and recarbolized. This hat
been poorly done, for when an in
vestigation was made as to why tn,
dressing had failed, the gauze wa,
found to have been imperfect,
cleaned and unfit for use.
At the New York and Roosevelt
Hospitals the result Of % cases showed
| but 9 instances of failure. These
cases were chiefly in DIR. Weir's owl
wards and under his own observation
and he states that even i'm these
cases of failure, retrospection detected
some imperfectly followed detail
which accounted for the nnfavorablt
condition of the wounds.