BEFORE AND AFTER LISTER 191 



or ninety per cent, or even a larger percentage of the 

 cases ! The knife was the best "antiseptic." 



In cases, in which by delay, the bacteria had invaded the 

 tissues more deeply, debridement and epluchage alone 

 were not sufficient. Then chemical disinfection, chiefly 

 by the method of Carrel and Dakin, was employed. After 

 a few days, or sometimes a few weeks, the bacteria would 

 be destroyed and then the wound could be closed with 

 success. The chemical used was bleaching powder or 

 Sulfite of Soda in a weak solution. This fluid was dis- 

 tributed to every part of the wound by small rubber tubes, 

 closed at the far end but with many small holes in the 

 sides. By these means, the infected wound was kept 

 constantly bathed in the antiseptic fluid and the germs 

 were gradually destroyed. 



Lister's fundamental postulate ridding the wounds of 

 bacteria whether mechanically by the knife, or chemi- 

 cally by destroying them was more firmly established 

 than ever before. 



When the Surgical History of the War is published, 

 the wonderful results in saving life will be an astonishing 

 story. 



