LISTER ON A SURGICAL OPERATION - "ANTISEPTIC MANAGEMENT BEING OF COURSE ASSURED" LISTER (Lord Joseph, 1827-1912, Pioneer of Antiseptic Surgery)

Fine Autograph Letter Signed to an unnamed correspondent apologising for his late reply but he has "been rather oppressed with professional engagements lately. I am sorry to say I do not see much probability of success from attempts to lever the bones into position I should be disposed to make one incision at each side of the dural aspect of the joint ... then ... endeavour to ease off the tendons ... from the head of the metacarpel bone, which they probably now embrace, & having done this, have them held strongly aside by means of small blunt hooks so as to allow the head of the metacarpel bone to slip backwards between them. If I failed in this, I should take off the end of the ... bone by means of small chisel, or small cutting pliers or both, taking just enough to enable the bone to be replaced, antiseptic management being of course assured ...", 4 sides 8vo., 12 Park Crescent, Portland Place headed paper, 27th July

Lister moved from Scotland to King's College Hospital, in London. He was elected President of the Clinical Society of London. He developed a method of repairing kneecaps with metal wire and improved the technique of mastectomy. He was also known for being the first surgeon to use catgut ligatures, sutures, and rubber drains, and developing an aortic tourniquet.

Item Date:  1885

Stock No:  40480