Sinclair, Sir William J.: Semmelweis. His Life and his Doctrine (Manchester, 1909)
VII. Last Illness and Death
3i6 MATTHEWS DUNCAN be a laceration, contusion, or fissure anywhere in the genital canal. . . . Following an as yet indefinite conception of wound- fever, came a further true advance in the demonstration of the identity of the morbid anatomy in patients dying after surgical and after obstetrical wounds. This step we owe to Cruveilhier, Simpson and others. Next came the discovery and description of phlebitis and lymphangitis, a grand piece of progress, which we owe chiefly to Cruveilhier, Robert Lee. . . . A still further step in establishing the nature of puerperal fever was the discovery of thrombosis and embolism by Virchow, Kirkes, Cohnheim and many others. Next came the researches into the potency of septic poisons—researches as to the production, diffusion, and the influence of bacteria, which we owe to Lister, Klebs, Billroth, Heiberg, Orth, and many more. Great credit is due to Semmelweis for the good he has done, especially to hospital patients, by his enlightened zeal in the cause of prevention; but much has yet to be accomplished. Prophylaxis is still farther to be carried out .... by disinfection .... subjects all at present receiving attention from the profession. The most important researches on bacteria have been those of Lister and his followers, undertaken with a practical object in view. The results have been equally wonderful and valuable. These results go far to justify the belief that pyaemia is a septic disease, and that puerperal pyaemia may be almost if not altogether prevented by the application to delivery of a practice based on antiseptic principles. . . . The rules of Semmelweis, or any other washing of the hands, do not secure cleanliness according to Lister, nor constitute Listerian treatment. . . . We have yet a long way to go in order to secure complete antiseptic delivery.
