INTRODUCTION XX1 
lated hernia, operations on the urinary organs, and certain plastic operations. 
Abdominal surgery, as we now understand it, did not exist, the extensive opera- 
tions for malignant growths and tuberculous disease now generally practised 
were not performed, and the numerous exploratory operations undertaken at 
the present day were not even contemplated. In fact, modern surgery dates 
from the introduction of the Listerian methods. 
The treatment of wounds as practised at different periods varied greatly, 
according to the views taken by different surgeons as to the causes of the septic 
troubles which were so prone to arise. But until Lister framed and began to 
test the antiseptic hypothesis, the whole subject of the diseases of wounds was 
in a State of chaos. 
It may be interesting to mention some of the chief methods of wound treat- 
ment in vogue during the early part of the nineteenth century. At that time 
the air was looked on as the cause, in some way or other, of the troubles resulting 
from wounds, and many surgeons attempted to exclude it by putting on great 
masses of dressings and ointments. A reaction against this method of treatment 
set in, leading to the development of what was called the open method of treating 
wounds. In that plan the wound was left freely open, no more being done than 
to provide means for allowing the discharges to flow freely away, and to prevent 
contact of clothing. This gave results in many ways superior to those obtained 
from methods previously in vogue. 
Another plan which also furnished good results and is still employed in 
suitable cases, was constant irrigation of wounds with water, or the immersion 
of the wounded part in a water bath. The bath gave excellent results in the 
hands of Vallette and others, especially when combined with the use of various 
substances which we now know to possess antiseptic properties, such as tincture 
of benzoin, creosote, and iron salts. 
About this time also subcutaneous surgery was introduced, but unfor- 
tunately it was a method applicable only in a very limited number of cases. 
John Hunter had at an earlier date pointed out the advantage of healing by 
scabbing, and to obtain this became a frequent object in the treatment of 
small wounds. Nevertheless the most common method of treating wounds 
was, perhaps, by a water dressing, a piece of lint dipped in water being applied 
over the surface of the wound, and covered by oiled silk. This method led to 
putrefaction and suppuration in the wound in the great majority of cases. 
Shortly before Lister began his work some surgeons had begun to employ 
various substances, with the avowed intention of diminishing the putrefaction 
of the discharges in wounds. Among the materials thus employed were alcohol, 
