Carbolic Acid

What was carbolic acid?

Carbolic acid, or phenol, wasthe first true antiseptic used in surgery.

How was carbolic acid discovered?

Joseph Lister studied Pasteur's germ theory and, after realising carbolic acid was effective in stopping wounds from turning gangrenous, he developed a carbolic acid spray to kill germs on both medical instruments and the wound.

When was carbolic acid first used?

Joseph Lister first used carbolic acid, in the form of a spray, in 1865.

How was carbolic acid used in antiseptic surgery.

Antiseptic surgery involved cleaning surgical instruments, and the patient's wounds, with carbolic acid.

What results did Lister achieve by using carbolic acid?

By using Lister's antiseptic techniques, the death rate among patients who had amputations dropped from 46% to 15%.

Why was Lister criticised for his use of carbolic acid?

There were 5 main reasons why there was opposition to Lister's methods.

• ❖ Carbolic acid made the instruments tricky to hold, because they were slippery.
• ❖ Carbolic acid was unpleasant to use, as it irritated surgeons' hands.
• ❖ Doctors applied Lister's methods incorrectly, leading them to believe his theory was wrong.
• ❖ The equipment was expensive to buy and set up.
• ❖ Lister was arrogant, and disliked by many of the surgical community.

Why did Lister use catgut soaked in carbolic acid?

Lister used catgut as a ligature. It could be soaked in carbolic acid, which helped prevent infection in the wound.