If THE UPE OF P ' "It 



• to a reader unfamiliar with such studies a 



most interesting < ra in the history 



of civilization, nfT«-ctinK the preservation of innumerable human 



" A pin-prick is a door open to Death," said the surgeon 

 Velpean. That open door widened before the smallest opera- 

 ; the lancing of an abscess or a whitlow sometimes had such 

 I rioni consequences that surgeons hesitated before the slight 



the bistoury. It was much worse when a great surgical 

 rrention was necessary, though, through the irony of things, 

 the immediate success of the most difficult operations was now 

 1 by the progress of skill and the precious discovery 

 :. Tli-' patient, his will and consciousness sus- 

 pended, awoke from the most terrible operation as from a 

 dream. Hut at that very moment when the surgeon's art was 

 boldened by being able to disregard pain, it was arrested, 

 discon . and terrified by the fatal failures which super- 



vened ftfter almost every operation. The words pya?mia. 

 prene, erysipelas, septicaemia, purulent infection, were 

 bywords in those days. 



In the face of those terrible consequences, it had been 

 thought better, about forty years ago, to discourage and even 

 to prohibit a certain operation, then recently invented and prac- 

 i\ in od and America, ov y, "even," said 



Velj " if the reported eures he true." In order to express 



• rror inspired by ovariotomy, a physician went so far as 

 to say thai it should be " olsssed among the attributes of the 

 executioner." 



As • i supposed that the infected air of the hospitals 

 iki. the cause of the invariably fatal results of that opera- 



IS Publique 1 hired an isolated house in the 

 le Meudon, near Paris, a salubrious spot. In 1863, 



• • women in lUCCession wei thai house; the neigh- 

 bouring inhabitants watched those ten petit nts entering the 

 he I i short time afterwards their ten coffins being taken 



In theil terrified ignorance they called that house the 

 H s of 4 Irin 

 Surg> "lis were asking themselves whether they did not 



with th. in, unco' -ily scattering virus and 



Bui :sons. 



.'ion cf the charitable work* 



• v; I r»ii8.J 



