]]> ]]>
John H Teacher was St Mungo Professor of Pathology at the University of Glasgow and pathologist to the Glasgow Royal Infirmary. ]]> ]]> "An extra meeting of the Society was held this evening, and the President occupied the chair.

The minutes of last meeting were read and approved.
Mr Lister gave a lengthened exposition of the atmospheric germ theory of putrefaction, and illustrated it by the exhibition of M. Pasteur’s experiment with flasks containing urine.

He next directed attention to the employment of Carbolic acid for the destruction of the germs presumed to exist in the air, and which Mr Lister supposed to be the exciting cause of putrefaction in wounds; and for the details of a case in which a young man sustained an incised wound of left side of thorax, with penetration through the diaphragm and protrusion of omentum through the wound externally.

The protruding portion of omentum was cut off; and although the left pleural cavity was so distended with air and haemorrhage as to cause displacement of the heart to the right side of the chest, the young man made a perfect recovery under the Carbolic acid dressings.
Mr L then described the effects of a ligature applied on the antiseptic system to the carotid of a horse, and showed the portion of the artery, and the superjacent skin, as well as the ligature, all of which had been removed from the horse, which had died from some disease unconnected with the operation, 13 days after.
He also narrated a case of ligature of the external iliac artery by the same method, and the history of a case of necrosis of the tibia, in which some of the dead bone had come away, but was presumed to have been absorbed.

The mode of dressing wounds with Carbolic acid was next described; the part of Carbolic acid in 20 of water being recommended for an internal application; and for external dressing, after experimenting with a number of different substances, Mr Lister had arrived at the conclusion that emplastrum plumbi with a fourth of its weight of bees wax and impregnated with Carbolic acid is the most suitable. The strength of the dressing ought however in all cases to be regulated by the nature of the wound.

A discussion following, was, chiefly owing to the late hour, confined principally to the cause of putrefaction in wounds, and the theory which had been advanced by Mr Lister to account for the antiseptic properties of the Carbolic acid."

]]> ]]> Portrait of Joseph Lister

]]> Portrait of Joseph Lister

Animation on Lister's Carbolic Spray

]]>

Gavel Casket by RCPSG Heritage on Sketchfab

]]> Gavel casket

Royal Faculty 350th Anniversary gavel

Mr James Lang AD 1878-1956 Master Craftsman in Wood

3D Scan of 350th Anniversary gavel

]]>
Listermania (2018) was a celebration of Joseph Lister's pioneering work on antisepsis in Glasgow. ]]> ]]>
The carbolic spray, however, was mainly employed during Lister's time as a surgeon in Edinburgh. As well as sterilising wounds, Lister aimed to sterilise the surgical environment. Hence, an operator would pump carbolic spray around the operating theatre to eradicate any germs. Unfortunately, this had detrimental effects on practitioners since they were inhaling highly concentrated carbolic acid. ]]> ]]> Portrait of Joseph Lister

Lister Carbolic Spray

Ward in the Lister Block

]]>
Silver plate on top of box: "Presented to the Royal Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow on the 29th November, 1949, and to perpetuate the memory of Andrew and William Brown J.P., who as instrument makers to the Royal Infirmary served the great surgeons Lord Lister and Sir William Macewen, by Mr. Andrew Jardine, newphew of Messrs. Brown. This casket is made of timber from the Lister Ward of the Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Built 1859 - Demolished 1924."

Carving on front of box: Image of the original GRI building; "The original Glasgow Royal Infirmary 1794-1912".

Handles on sides of box: Thistle and serpent emblem of the GRI; "Auspice Caelo".

Carving on back of box: Emblem and motto of Clan Jardine, "Cave Adsum"; "The founder George Jardine, Professor of Logic, Old College Glasgow".]]> ]]> Lang; James (1878-1956); Mr]]>
]]>

MR JAMES LANG
AD 1878-1956
MASTER CRAFTSMAN IN WOOD

On completion of the presentation gavel casket for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. The inscription on the casket top reads-

Presented to the Royal Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow on the 29th November 1949 and to perpetuate the memory of Andrew and William Brown J.P. who as instrument makers to the Royal Infirmary served the great surgeons Lord Lister and Sir William Macewen
by
Mr Andrew Jardine, Nephew of Messrs Brown.
This casket is made of tinder from the Lister Ward of the Glasgow Royal Infirmary.
Built 1839 - Demolished 1924

]]>
Lister began his investigations into antisepsis while working at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary in 1860s. It was here that he used the first ever antiseptic dressings while attending patients with compound fractures. ]]> B. Borthwick; Early 19th century; Surgical instrument makers]]>
The maker of this spray was David Marr of 27 Little Queen Street, London, who made many of Lister's instruments. The spray has a grey metal body with a wooden handle attached at one side and a container for the carbolic acid at the other side. Water was boiled in the upper container of the main part of the spray by a spirit lamp in the lower part. The steam produced was emitted across the tube leading into the container of carbolic acid whereupon the steam mixed with the acid.

Implements used by Lister for spraying underwent a steady evolution. Originally an ordinary rubber bulb spray was used, this was then replaced by a large and more cumbersome machine which was mounted on a tripod and manipulated by a long pump handle. Stage three in the development process was the steam spray shown here.

The carbolic acid solution used in the sprays also developed with time, the parts of acid becoming stronger. Lister was aware that the air was a medium for germs and his belief that germs could be destroyed by chemical substances was influenced by the work of Louis Pasteur.

The use of the spraying technique employed by Lister was an important element of the antiseptic ritual of treatment. Lister's success with antiseptic procedures revolutionised the treatment of disease and injuries.

Related Items

The papers of Joseph Lister (RCPSG 11) are held in the College Archives.

The College also holds a pocket case of lancets, bistouries, probes and hooks which belonged to Joseph Lister.

In the Lister room within the College there is a table and a fireplace rescued from the Lister wards of the Glasgow Royal Infirmary when they were demolished in 1924. Lord Lister's graduation gown is also displayed in this room.

The College's art collection includes an etching of Joseph Lister by Wilfred C. Applebey and a print of a portrait of him by T. Hamilton Crawford, as well as a picture of the scene of the demolition of the Lister wards.]]> ]]> David Marr; 1878-; Surgical instrument maker]]>