Hippocrates of Cos seems to have been a smart fellow, and originated a style of thinking about medicine that was different, and better, than what had gone before, and parts of which are still recognisable as how we think today. He traditionally takes the credit as the “father of medicine”, even though, today, he woul
On the hundredth anniversary of his death, in 2012, Lister was considered by most in the medical field as "the father of modern surgery". Although Lister was so roundly honoured in later life, his ideas about the transmission of infection and the use of antiseptics were widely criticised in his early career.
[8] [9] History Aristotle (384–322 BCE). "As regards his method, Aristotle is recognized as the inventor of scientific method because of his refined analysis of logical implications contained in demonstrative discourse, which goes well beyond natural logic and does not owe anything to the ones who philosophized before him."
While he was in Edinburgh, Lister conducted a series of physiological experiments between the years 1853 and 1859. His approach was rigorous and meticulous in both measurement and description. Lister was clearly aware of the latest advances of physiological research in France, Germany, and other European countries and maintained an on-going discussion of his observations and results with other leading physicians in his peer group including Albert von Kölliker, Wilhelm von Wittich, Theodor Schwann and Rudolf Virchow and ensured he correctly cited their work.
In 1887, Lister presented the Bradshaw lecture with a lecture titled: On the Present Position of Antiseptic Treatment in Surgery. In 1897, Lister was awarded the College Gold Medal, their highest honour.
1855 (Lister is in the front row with his hands clasped) The widespread introduction of antiseptic surgical methods followed the publishing of Lister's Antiseptic Principle of the Practice of Surgery in 1867.
General criticism of his methods was exacerbated by the fact that he found it hard to express himself adequately in writing, so they seemed complicated, unorganised, and impractical. Joseph Lister, Baron Lister acclaims Louis Pasteur at Pasteur's Jubilee, Paris, 1892. Photograph after a painting by Jean-André Rixens.
On his first meeting with Syme, Lister was invited to his house Millbank in Morningside (now part of Astley Ainslie Hospital ), where he met, amongst others, Agnes Syme, who was Syme's daughter by another marriage, and granddaughter of the physician Robert Willis.
From a technical viewpoint, Lord Lister was not an exceptional surgeon, but his research into bacteriology and infection in wounds raised his operative technique to a new plane where his observations, deductions and practices revolutionised surgery throughout the world.