PART III 

 THE ANTISEPTIC SYSTEM 



ON A xNEW METHOD OF TREATING COMPOL'ND 



FRACTURE, ABSCESS, ETC. 



WITH OBSERVATIONS ON THE CONDITIONS OF SUPPURATION 



[Lancet, 1867, vol. i. pp. 326, 357, 387, 507 ; vol. ii, p. 95.] 



ON COMPOUND FRACTURE 



The frequency of disastrous consequences in compound fracture, contrasted 

 with the complete immunity from danger to Hfe or hmb in simple fracture, is 

 one of the most striking as well as melancholy facts in surgical practice. 



If we inquire how it is that an external wound communicating with the 

 seat of fracture leads to such grave results, we cannot but conclude that it is by 

 inducing, through access of the atmosphere, decomposition of the blood which is 

 effused in greater or less amount around the fragments and among the interstices 

 of the tissues, and, losing by putrefaction its natural bland character, and as- 

 suming the properties of an acrid irritant, occasions both local and general 

 disturbance. 



We know that blood kept exposed to the air at the temperature of the 

 body, in a vessel of glass or other material chemically inert, soon decomposes ; 

 and there is no reason to suppose that the living tissues surrounding a mass of 

 extravasated blood could preserve it from being affected in a similar manner 

 by the atmosphere. On the contrary, it may be ascertained as a matter of 

 observation that, in a compound fracture, twenty-four hours after the accident 

 the coloured serum which oozes from the wound is already distinctly tainted 

 with the odour of decomposition, and during the next two or tliroe tlays. before 

 suppuration has set in, the smell of the effused fluids becomes more an«.l more 

 offensive. 



This state of things is enough to account for all the bail consequences of 



the injury. 



The pernicious influence of decomposing animal matter upon tlie tissues 



LISTER II B 



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