Sinclair, Sir William J.: Semmelweis. His Life and his Doctrine (Manchester, 1909)
VII. Last Illness and Death
276 CARL BRAUN both Divisions of the Hospital, even when the average mortality of the First Division was 7*7 per cent, and in the School for Midwives 67 per cent. In the month of November, certain extraordinary measures were adopted within the First Clinic by orders from the Hospital Department of the Imperial-Royal State-Ministry. Carl Braun was in fact compelled to introduce the Semmelweis methods of prophylaxis. No student was permitted to examine a lying-in patient during the whole month of November; none but specially selected midwives must attend the women in labour; courses of obstetric operations on the cadaver were suspended; the method of isolation was introduced, and many women attacked with the malady were transferred to other parts of the General Hospital; practical instruction in midwifery was suspended; assistants and midwives were required to use disinfectants for their hands. For disinfection of the hands a strong solution of permanganate of potash was employed, and nail brushes were introduced for the first time. In spite of all these precautions . . . the mortality in November, 1861, amounted to 10 per cent, in Braun’s Clinic, and in December to 13 per cent. ... So chemical disinfection was declared as proved to be useless. It gave no protection against puerperal processes. Yet without closing the Hospital and without turning away a single applicant for admission, the high mortality ceased in February, 1862. . . . In the winter months (Beheizungsmonaten) of the three years 1861-63 the mortality was 4/1 per cent., although besides soap and water, chemicals were employed systematically and diligently (systematisch und fleissig gebraucht wurden) and the results became worse instead of better. Carl Braun next goes on to demonstrate that the prophylaxis of puerperal fever was all a question of fresh air in the wards, and of drying and warming the bedclothes and diapers. The “Aborte”—the non-water- closets—were isolated from the kitchen, and ventilated.
