New-York tribune., 1912-02-12
LORD LISTER DEAD
0isCoverer Of the AntiseptiC Sys-
tenn of Treatment in Suruery.

S'N0o'N'S' W wv SillloCpilO Oyo-
tenn OF Treatment in Surgery.
London. Feb. ll.--Joseph Lister, first
Baron Lister, who was made famous by
his discovery Of the antiseptic system OF
treatment in surgery died to-day. He
was born I'm 1927, and had served as pro-
fessor ~ surgery in Glasgow and Fdin-
burgh universities and in Kings College,
London
Surgery. it has been well said. is to-
day divided into two periods. the pre-
Lister and the post-Lister periods. The
momentous years Of division lay between
1860 and 1869, while the young surgeon
was occupying the Regius chair OF sur
gerry at the University of Glasgow His
connection with the Glasgow Infirmary
gave him large practice, and through it
he became acquainted With the terrible
mortality resulting from surgical opera
tions. In one week as many as FIVE pa
tents died, after easy operations. from
blood poisoning, Another enemy OF the
wards was surgical gangrene, which swept
on unchecked despite all efforts to deter
mine it's cause.
To the mastery Of these evils Lister
bent his chief energies lie tried every
eXpedent 20 make the wards sanitary.
He insisted on careful washing of hands
by all engaged around patients under OPP
Grafton. Everything was done to deter
mine the cause of these dread diseases.
To Pasteur the tanner, Lister was finally
indebted for the key 10 the difficulty. Pas
l., a .t, in
the process of putrefacton were minute or
ganisms in the air. Acting on this clue,
Lister conceived the idea Of finding some
solution that would kill these organisms
without injuring the human flesh. Carbolic
acid was selected as the best form OF germ
icidc. After some experimenting he found
the right solution and began TO get results.
With his new solution he washed all
wounds and instruments. Then he invent
ed carbolic spray with which 10 kill the
germs In the air Later, however, he
learned that the spray was superfuous as
all anti-septicsIly treated and bandassd
wound could not be affected by germs In
the air.
An immediate decrease in deaths from
surgically made wounds followed, His dis
coveries were heralded far and wide and
adopted. Thus vas modern
surgery born. The worlds estimate OF the
value OF Listers work was epitomized some
years ago at q banquet in his honor, when
one speaker turned 20 him and said:
My lord II is not a profession, il is not
a nation; 1, Is humanity itself which with
uncovered head, salutes you"
Lord Lister was born Of Quaker family
in lS27 IN the Essex village OF Upton. now
. part Of London. His father, wine
merchant, followed science as an avoca-
ton. with no little distinction, To him is
credited the invention OF a powerful com
pound chromatIc microscope, much used
by scientists The future destroyer OF
germs, therefore, received a strong i'm
pulse. both by heredity and early environ
meRL toward his life work.
The boy prepared for college in the
Friends school at Tottenham. From there
he went 10 University College, later trans
ferrlnG 10 the University OF London, where
he received the degree u Bachelor Of Arts
ln 1877 Five years later ne took his FIRST
medical degree and became a fellow Of the
ROYAL College of Surgeons.
IN 1853 he went TO Edinburgh 20 attend
the vacation or Professor J. Syme, thCn
the most distinguished surgeon In the
United Kingdom Syme's influence shaped
his whole future career Incidentally, IN
1915 he married Agnes, daughter OF Pro
fessor Svme She died In 1888
Listers own skill soon began 10 attract
attention and the appointment at Glasgow
followed In 1879 he succeeded his father.
in-law a. professor OF surgery at Edin-
burgh University, 2 post which he held
until 1877, when ne went 10 London 10 ac-
cspt q similar professorship at Kings Col
Iose After the death Of his wife he re-
tired from practice.
Gladstone made him q bsronet in 1883.
and in 1897, on the advice OF Lord Sails
bury, queen Victoria raised him 20 the
peerage. he was the first member OF the
medical profession TO receive that distinc-
tion
lie Was a man honored by his intlmates
as much for his personality as for his
attainmcntS. His natural gen
tility, simplicity and modesty made him
known as the beau IDEAL of the true Eng
lsh gentleman"