BARON LISTER.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14673, 14 February 1912, Page 7

BARON LISTER.

A WORLD'S BENEFACTOR. Tho late Baron Lister, who was horn Jtt "Upton, Essex, on the sth April, 1827, had a most remarkable oareeii* as a surgfeon. His father, Joseph Jackion Lister. F.R.S., was also eminent in science., especially in cptical science. He greatly improved the lenses of the compound miscroscopo, thus .naking a Bcdentifio toy a powerful engine of research —the position to-day of the microscope. Other members of the family were also noted for their work in natural science. Joseph Lister was educated for his profession at I.ondon University, ajid took his B.A. and M.B. degrees in 1852, and M.D. and F.R.C.S., two years later. In 1856 he was assistant surgeon at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary; was Professor of Surgery at Glasgow University 1860-69; oP Clinical Surgery, Edinburgh, and at King's Colleee London 1877-93. "While he was at ■Glasgow, occupied with tho duties of

his first professorship, ho made the groat discovery of antiseptic stigory, which has won for tho name of Lister the of the world. Records 'nil of the mid-Victorian days when tho duties oi' a surgeon wore accomplished inidor .such conditions that tli's surgeon declared wore often heartbreaking. Ampmatioa was genoiv.ily followed hy inflammation, putre!a.( Ljcii, and often hy .loath, and uob.'dy oo'dd' account for it. Lister nought t:> solve tho mystery. i'asteur had previously .shown that fermentations in vegetable matters was due to the action of minute organisms, and it occurred to Lister that the inflammation mid gangrene of wounds wore probably duo to organisms also. Ho tried the application o? carbolic a.id. Thou newly brought to notice as a disinfectant, and found that it acted as ho had hoped. His discovery was dorided hy other members of the profession, but there was no deriding the j'act that Lifters surgical ward was tho healthiest in tho world. The results of the aseptic or disinfectant system of treating wounds were too great to bo long disregarded, and presently tho means of applying the system it became as necessary a part of the equipment of a surgeon as his instruments. The value of the discovery was well expressed 'by a foreign scientist who said "After Lister it has been possible to declare that no man shall die in consequence o£ an operas tion." Foreign countries were not slow iu recognising tho value of the new method, and honours wero accorded hi in at Home and abroad. He was made Surgeon Extraordinary to the Queen in IS7B, received tho degree of L.L.D. at Glasgow University in 1879, L.L.D. at Cambridge in ISBO, and in 1883 was created a "baronet on Mr Gladstone's recommendation. He retired in 1890 to devoto himself to scientific gtudv, and was raised to tho peerage in 1897, his elevation giving great satisfaction to the medical fraternity, as until then no member of the profession had been similarly honoured. Retaining his position on tho medical staff of Queen Victoria, he became Sergeant Sugeon-in-<)rdinary to His Late Maiesty. Lord Lister was elected President of the Royal Society, 1895-1900, and of tho British Association for Hrlie Advancement of Science 1896. Among, tho Coronation i honours in 1902, he was nominated an original member of the new Order of Merit. Although Lord Lister is best known as tho discoverer of < 'liisterisTn ,, ais it was called, he introduced many other notable changes into surgery. Among other things, he was the inventor of tho tourniquet which diminishes hemorrhage in cases of operation on the hip-joint. Many new operations were altogether due to his initiative — notably the amputation which bears his naipe. Ho was tho first, to undertake osteotomy to rectify deformity of the limlx:, An even more important innovation was his method of treating fractures of bones counected by tlw joints by means of "wiring," a method which before the introduction of antiseptic surgery would have been impossible.

A member of the Dociy known as tho Society of Friends, Lord Lister's life may bo said to have characterises! by a passionate humanity. On receiving the freedom of the city of Edinburgh he uttered the words: "I

] regard this and all worthy distinctions i as nothing in comparison with the hope that I may have been tho meaus of reducing in some degree the turn of human misery.'"' Lord Lister's public speeches were simple, clear, and graceful, avoiding rhetorical display, and they showcu him to be a man earnest for tho truth, zealous for his science and art, forgetful of himself. His writings, in like manner, wero plain, lucid, and forcible, scarcely betraying tlie labour and thought of their production. With , courtesy aud serenity of carriage, ho combined what is so often characteristic of those who eomo of tho Society of Friends, a simple love of truth, and a helpfulness which showed itself in a gouerous encouragement of young workers.