History Daily The First Antiseptic Surgery
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Aug 12, 2025 Discover the pivotal moment in 1865 when Joseph Lister performed the first antiseptic surgery, transforming medical practices forever. Delve into the journey of a surgeon committed to ending postoperative infections, inspired by groundbreaking research. Explore Lister's revolutionary techniques, including his use of carbolic acid, and how they greatly reduced infection rates. This episode also highlights the lasting impact of Lister's work on modern medicine, including the creation of Listerine as a tribute to his innovations.
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Miraculous Recovery Of James Greenlees
- Joseph Lister set 11-year-old James Greenlees's broken tibia and wrapped the wound in lint soaked with carbolic acid instead of amputating.
- Six weeks later the boy walked out of the Glasgow Royal Infirmary on two legs, avoiding the usual infection risk.
A Father's Microscope Shaped Lister
- Joseph Lister's father, Joseph Jackson Lister, invented an improved microscope and taught him to question and test theories.
- That scientific upbringing drove Joseph to challenge miasma theory and pursue evidence-based solutions for surgical infection.
Germ Theory Applied To Surgery
- Thomas Anderson explains Louis Pasteur's experiments showing spoilage slows when protected from air, implying tiny living organisms cause decay.
- Joseph Lister immediately connects microbes to surgical infections and begins testing ways to prevent them.
