The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-06-08
the hands that operate are also washe

the hands that operate are also washed
in solution of carbolic acid.
AS result of this practice it was
found that wounds "healed at the
first intention" There was seldom
deed of treating suppuration, suppu-
ration never appeared except when
the operator or some of his assistants
had been guilty of gross carelessness.
Bandages were left on until the flesh
had grown together again. There was
no more washing of wounds to be done,
nor any expectation of febrile symp-
toms as matter of course. Fhe
patient was expected to leave his bed,
not wasted with slow fever, but hale
and hearty. Between the new treat
ment and the old there was all the
difference between prevention and
cure.
1t was evident, Of course, to Lister
and his followers that they were pro-
tecting their patients against some
thing tangible and destructible that
could be made to feel the sting Of
powerful acid. 1t remained for the
microscope and the brains of such
men as Pasteur, Koch, Pruden and
Surgeon General NJ. Sternberg, Of the
United States army, successfully to
investigate the nature and general
ways Of that something. The power
Of the microscope happened to be
prodigiously increased about that time
by discoveries in practical optics, and
one of the first results was the detec-
tion and Identification of ''streptococ-
Gus pyrogenes. The name sounds
like that of Byzantine Emperor, but
it only means slittle necklace animal
that makes pus," anditi is we'll de-
served name, for pyrogenes is the
busy maker, first, of that 'laudable
pus' which is now known to be an
accumulation Of the victims precious
white blood corpuscles, and, latter, of
the still more deadly symptoms of the
dark, glarious pus.
The way to guard against this dead
ly gangrene and fever was, fortunately
for humanity, pointed out even while
its cause was ouly vaguely known.
The general principles of Lister s
methods have been thoroughly and
Systematically applied in our service.
Not only are there complete facilities
for aseptic surgery in the field hospi-
tails, which will accompany the United
States soldiers to Cuba or to the Phil
ippines, as wsll as in the sick bays Of
every man-of-war. but in every regi
ment there are certain number Of
men in the ranks, each provided with
antiseptic dressing packed hermeti-
cally. These are the trained bearers
of first aid to the wounded. The
regulations allow Of their leaving their
fighting positions, from time to time,
to bind up the wounds of fallen COM
rades in such way as to cffectually
guard against "sepsis, or the infec-
tion Of suppuration.
Less important than the considera-
tion of the actual saving Of life, for
which one may look to the new sur
gerry, but still we'll worth nothing, is
the prospect that much larger num-
Der of those who go into hospitals
wounded will come out not only alive
and we'll, but with their full compile
ment Of limbs. Talking recently of
the outlook for Uncle Sam 8 soldiers
in the present war, DR.. John H. Gird-
ner, who has made special duty of
gunshot wounds, said:
In the old days surgeon would
very often amputate simply to save
his man from the dangers of gangrcnc.
Now that gangrene has been provided
against, soldier who goes into hospi-
tai with two legs, even if bullet had
smashed both Of them, may still hope
to walk on two flesh and blood legs
for Years after the war -