Disinfection of the Hands 209 



The porcelain bougies as well as their attachments must 

 be thoroughly sterilized before use. 



After having been used, a porcelain filter must be dis- 

 infected, scrubbed, dried thoroughly, and then heated in 

 a Bunsen burner or blowpipe flame until all the organic 

 matter is consumed. In this firing process the filter first 

 turns black as the organic matter chars, then becomes 

 white again as it is consumed. The porcelain must be dry 

 before entering the fire, or it is apt to crack. 



It should not be forgotten that the filtrate must be received 

 in sterile receivers and handled with care to prevent sub 

 sequent contamination. 



The filtration of water, peptone solution, and bouillon 

 is comparatively easy, but gelatin and blood-serum pass 

 through with great difficulty, and speedily gum the filter. 



III. The Disinfection of Instruments, Ligatures, 

 Sutures, the Hands, etc. There are certain objects used 

 by the surgeon that cannot well be rendered incandescent, 

 exposed to dry heat at 150 C., or steamed continuously, or 

 intermittently heated without injury. For these objects dis- 

 infection must be practised. Ever since Sir Joseph Lister 

 introduced antisepsis, or disinfection, into surgery there has 

 been a struggle for the supremacy of this or that highly rec- 

 ommended germicidal substance, with two results viz., that 

 a great number of feeble germicides have been discovered, 

 and that belief in the efficacy of all germicides has been 

 somewhat shaken; hence the aseptic surgery of the present 

 day, which strives to prevent the entrance of germs into the 

 wound rather than their destruction after admission to it. 



For a complete discussion of the subject of antiseptics 

 in relation to surgery the reader must be referred to text- 

 books of surgery. 



The Disinfection of the Hands, etc. The disinfection of 

 the skin both the hands of the surgeon and the part about 

 to be incised is a matter of the utmost importance. Wash- 

 ing the hands with soap, which has marked germicidal 

 properties, will in many cases suffice to destroy or remove 

 bacteria from smooth skins. This method, which is regarded 

 by some surgeons as adequate, is not, however, commonly 

 regarded as sufficient protection to the patient who might 

 be infected by any remaining micro-organisms. To over- 

 come this, many surgeons prefer the use of sterilized gloves 



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