ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE ANTISEPTIC SYSTEM OF 



TREATMENT IN SURGERY 



[Lancet, 1867, vol. ii, p. 668.] 

 I 



Decomposition or putrefaction has long been known to be a source of 

 great mischief in surgery, and antiseptic apphcations have for several years 

 been employed by many surgeons. But the full extent of the evil, and the 

 paramount importance of adopting effectual measures against it, are far from 

 being generally recognized. 



It is now six years since I first pubHcly taught in the University of Glasgow 

 that the occurrence of suppuration in a wound under ordinary circumstances, 

 and its continuance on a healthy granulating sore treated with water dressing, 

 are determined simply by the influence of decomposing organic matter. The 

 subject has since received a large share of my attention, resulting in the system 

 of treatment which I have been engaged for the last three years in elaborating. 

 The benefits which attend this practice are so remarkable that I feel it incumbent 

 upon me to do what I can to diffuse them ; and with this view I propose to 

 present to the readers of the Lancet a series of illustrative cases, prefacing them 

 with a short notice of the principles which it is essential to bear in mind in order 

 to attain success.^ 



The cases in w^hich this treatment is most signally beneficial are divisible 

 into three great classes — incised wounds, of whatever form ; contused or lacerated 

 wounds, including compound fractures ; and abscesses, acute or chronic — 

 a list, indeed, which comprises the greater part of surgery. In each of these 

 groups our aim is simply to prevent the occurrence of decomposition in the 

 part, in order that its reparatory powers may be left undisturbed by the irritat- 

 ing and poisoning influence of putrid materials. In pursuing this object we 

 are guided by the ' germ theory ', which supplies us with a knowledge of the 

 nature and habits of the subtle foe we have to contend with ; and without 

 a firm belief in the truth of that theory, perplexity and blunders must be of 

 frequent occurrence. The facts upon which it is based appear sufficiently 



^ This plan seems preferable to continuing the formal communication, of wliich Part I has appeared 

 in preceding pages of this journal (pp. 1-36 of this volume) since I shall thus be left untrammelled as to 

 the order in which the subjects are introduced, and shall be at liberty to notice from time to time any im- 

 provements that may suggest themselves in the methods of dealing with the various classes of cases. — J. L. 



