74 The Story of the Bacteria 



operations which he performs, is not so much 

 concerned about the bacteria which may fall 

 upon the wounds from the air, as he is about 

 those germs which may be upon the hands 

 or face, or may come from the mouth or nose 

 or from some insignificant pustule or a boil 

 of himself or the attendants, because these 

 are more apt to be fully virulent than are bac- 

 teria which have been dried and sunburned in 

 the dust. So he does not use disinfectants as 

 much as was formerly the case, but sees to it 

 that the seat of operation in the patient, and 

 the hands of the attendants and all instru- 

 ments, towels, bandages, etc., which may touch 

 the wounds, are freed beforehand, as nearly 

 as possible, from all contaminating germs. 



This is the aseptic, which has supplanted 

 the antiseptic surgery. The aim is to keep 

 bacteria out of wounds, rather than to try 

 to kill them with antiseptics, after they have 

 been allowed to get in. Clean white aprons, 

 caps and gowns, rubber gloves, or fresh 

 scrubbed hands, sterile instruments and dress- 

 ings these are the insignia of aseptic surgery, 

 whose watchword is cleanliness. 



