British surgeon (1827–1912) who pioneered the practice of sterile surgery, one of the most important medical advances of the day. His name later became synonymous with a best-selling brand of antiseptic mouthwash. ALS signed “Lister,” seven pages on four sheets, 4.5 x 7, personal letterhead, June 17, 1901. Letter to an unknown colleague debating ventilation in the operating theatre. In part, “I must frankly confess that I do not feel as many do the necessity for any complicated system of ventilation in an operating theatre. My own work was all done in theatres ventilated in old-fashioned ways. Such was the case for example at King’s College Hospital, cold air entering below without provision for its filtration, and after being warmed by the heating apparatus, rising to escape by a large number of apertures around the roof…Dr. Flasgon I saw a few days ago in Hector Carmennes new operating theatre in the Western…Infirmary. The air was admitted through the many apertures a little above the level of the floor and piped out the roof. There was also a fan above by which the air could be rapidly drawn down out over the theatre. But this was only used on special occasions, or when there happened to be a bad smell caused by peculiar circumstances…This is one of the many complications introduced at the present day which, as I believe, are quite superfluous & tend to induce a false feeling of security. In spite of all such arrangements cases will go wrong if thorough antiseptic care is not taken by the operator & his assistants: but if such care were taken all will go well under the simplified & most natural system of ventilation.” In fine condition. R&R COA.
