1912] on Lord Lister. 555 



in common with other hospitals, had been the home of se])tic 

 diseases, with their terrible issnes, the introdnction of the antiseptic 

 treatment by Lister acted hke the magician's wand, dispelUng the 

 horrors which previously accompanied wound-healiug and creating 

 an atmosphere of sweetness and health. 



Difficulties in Accepting Antiseptic 

 Theoky and Pkactice. 



The new treatment and the theory, on which it was founded, were 

 received at first — save by a few faithful pupils — with scepticism 

 and coldness, and later on with open hostility. 



The works of Schwann and Cagniard-Latour and Pasteur were 

 not generally known. (}erms in purulent wound secretions were 

 not then demonstrated, and Lister was boldly called upon to show 

 those organisms in such secretion before founding a theory and 

 l)ractice upon the assumption of their presence. This desirable 

 demonstration was not obtained until later (1880-81), when Billroth 

 and Ogston demonstrated the presence of organisms in pus taken 

 from acute al)scesses. Yet the deduction arrived at by Lister at 

 that time, from the experiments of many able and reliable scientists, 

 was not only permissible, but was the only one to which the data 

 then availa))le inevitably pointed. 



Subsequent investigations with which all are now conversant 

 al)undantly proved the correctness of the conclusion. 



The usual fate meted out to innovators or disturbers of settled 

 doctrines was shared by Lister. He and his theory were virulently 

 assailed both from within the hospital and from without. Some 

 colleagues, some governors and a host of free-lances all joined in the 

 fray, the most ignorant being ever the loudest. He was despitefully 

 used, and had to l)ear the derision and cackle of fools. A scoffer has 

 not necessarily a high standard of intelligence, and at best he does 

 but devil's work. Fortunately such ephemera, troublesome and 

 annoyijig as they are, die before the light. 



GrERlVtANY READILY ACCEPTS ANTISEPTIC TEACHING. 



Lister's teaching in this country was at first of no avail. It fell 

 upon ears unprepared to receive it. Except by his own students in 

 Scotland and a sprinkling of them in England the antiseptic treat- 

 ment passed unheeded over Britain, yea, even over the land of Pasteur 

 it passed to other nations, especially to that country where the scientific 

 education of its people, theii- earnestness of purpose, thoroughness of 

 method and their desire to see under the surface, enables them to 

 appraise quickly any theory and practice having a scientific basis. 



Another reason for the rapid spread of antiseptics among the 



