Bacteriology in a nutshell. 
Sepsis Cases 
Becoming 
Rare. 
The Debt We 
Owe Lister. 
accomplished, no matter how closely the physi¬ 
cian’s orders are carried out. 
In place of a surgical case we may have a case 
of ^obstetrics, perhaps a case in which it has been 
necessary to use instruments. The nurse in pre¬ 
paring them for the physician’s use has not been 
sufficiently careful, or in some other way some¬ 
thing containing the germs of disease has been 
carried into the puerperal genital tract. Again 
we have the characteristic symptoms observed in 
the surgical case, and again the dread word “sep¬ 
sis” rings in our ears. Glad we are to be able 
to say that such cases are more rarely encoun¬ 
tered as the years go by. A conscientious, well- 
trained nurse will watch every corner, and let no 
source of infection escape her keen eye. She will 
use all antiseptic precautions herself, and she will 
also guard well her work against any such dis¬ 
asters (or worse) as have already been alluded 
to. 
Surgeons, themselves, as a rule, realize very 
fully the grave responsibility of a life at stake; 
but seldom do we meet a careless one. They, as 
well as the world at large, owe a debt of grati¬ 
tude to Lord Lister for the discovery of the pos- 
*In some of the best Maternity Hospitals of the pres¬ 
ent day all personal clothing, as well as bed linen, used 
for both mother and infant during the first week are 
sterilized, just as for a surgical case. This applies 
especially to the gowns, abdominal bandages, perineal 
pads, diapers, etc. These are put up m packages, sep¬ 
arate from those containing gauze for the cord, silk, 
etc. Each package contains sufficient clothing for one 
day. After sterilization they are not handled until 
needed. Infants so cared for are said to be less trou¬ 
bled with skin eruptions, and there are no infections 
of the cord. Sterilization of articles used for the 
mother serves as a further protection against sepsis. 
72 
