ASEPTIC MEASURES. 
Intermittent Sterilization. By intermit¬ 
tent sterilization we mean the exposure of articles 
to be sterilized to the'action of live steam for one 
hour on three successive days. Certain spores 
are known to retain germinating powers after be¬ 
ing treated to a bath of boiling water, and the 
end sought in intermittent sterilization is to de¬ 
stroy all bacteria which may develop from spores 
after the first or second sterilization. The pro¬ 
cess is only rarely necessary, because exposure to 
live steam for one hour usually kills both bacteria 
and spores. 
In aseptic surgery many consider the use of 
both heat and chemicals necessary in order to in¬ 
sure freedom from all pathogenic bacteria and 
their spores. This applies only to the prepara¬ 
tion of dressings, sponges and the skin, except in 
diseased conditions. “Clean, healthy tissue con¬ 
tains no bacteria.” “Wounds in healthy tissue 
tend to heal spontaneously.” 
“Antiseptics being all more or less irritant tend 
to interfere with the healing process.” 
If a healthy wound is properly protected from 
possible invasion of micro-organisms, the use of 
antiseptics is unnecessary and may be injurious. 
Infection may reach the wound in several ways: 
I. —Because the room in which the operation 
is performed is not properly prepared,, or if 
sweeping or dusting is done just when the wound 
is to be uncovered for dressing. Dust must al¬ 
ways be wiped up in sick-rooms with a cloth 
wrung out of a disinfectant solution. 
II. —Use of water not sterilized, or not kept 
covered after sterilization, when it again becomes 
filled with micro-organisms. 
75 
Definition. 
Healthy 
Tissue 
Aseptic. 
Infection 
Healthy 
Wounds. 
of 
Never Dust 
With a Dry 
Cloth. 
