Antiseptic
Antiseptics kill, or prevent, the growth of bacteria on the external surface of the body. The first antiseptic was used by Joseph Lister*.
Following Louis Pasteur’s work on putrefaction, Lister realised that pus was formed by bacteria, and from this developed his antiseptic surgical procedures. This included such practices as spraying the operating room with a solution of carbolic acid.
Antisepsis’ immediate success led to the general adoption of Lister’s methods, although some were at first doubtful of the idea. Some surgeons felt that Lister was attacking them personally, since his theory meant that they were the cause of infections, when operating without gloves, without washing between patients (and often not between dealing with dead and live people), and using non-sterile instruments. They were basically right.
In 1876 Robert Wood Johnson, heard a speech given by Lister in Philadelphia and, inspired, went on to set up Johnson & Johnson, Inc.
Today, antiseptics are accepted as a standard part of general cleanliness, land can be found, in some form or other, in most households. Lister is immortalised in ‘Listerine.’
ONELINER: Antiseptics
OTHER CONNECTIONS: None
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1867lister.html