Despite outward appearances, it was actually not until the latter decades of the 19th century that the surgeon truly emerged as a specialist within the whole of medicine to become a recognized and respected clinical practitioner

Such technical triumphs awaited the recognition and acceptance of antisepsis and asepsis. Anesthesia helped make the illusion of surgical cures more seductive, but it could not bring forth the final prerequisite: all-important hygienic reforms.

Still, by the mid-19th century, both doctors and patients were coming to hold surgery in relatively high regard for its pragmatic appeal, technologic virtuosity, and unambiguously measurable results. After all, surgery appeared to some a mystical craft. To be allowed to consensually cut into another human's body, to gaze at the depth of that person's suffering, and to excise the demon of disease seemed an awesome responsibility.

• Still, by the mid-19th century, both doctors and patients were coming to hold surgery in relatively high regard for its pragmatic appeal, technologic virtuosity, and unambiguously measurable results. After all, surgery appeared to some a mystical craft. To be allowed to consensually cut into another human's body, to gaze at the depth of that person's suffering, and to excise the demon of disease seemed an awesome responsibility.

• Yet it was this very mysticism, long associated with religious overtones, that so fascinated the public and their own feared but inevitable date with a surgeon's knife.

Surgeons had finally begun to view themselves as combining art and nature, essentially assisting nature in its continual process of destruction and rebuilding. This regard for the natural would spring from the eventual, though preternaturally slow, understanding and use of Joseph Lister's (1827-1912) techniques.

• Surgeons had finally begun to view themselves as combining art and nature, essentially assisting nature in its continual process of destruction and rebuilding. This regard for the natural would spring from the eventual, though preternaturally slow, understanding and use of Joseph Lister's (1827-1912) techniques.

In many respects, the recognition of antisepsis and asepsis was a more important event in the evolution of surgical history than the advent of inhalational anesthesia was. There was no arguing that deadening of pain permitted a surgical operation to be conducted in a more efficacious manner. Haste was no longer of prime concern.

• In many respects, the recognition of antisepsis and asepsis was a more important event in the evolution of surgical history than the advent of inhalational anesthesia was. There was no arguing that deadening of pain permitted a surgical operation to be conducted in a more efficacious manner. Haste was no longer of prime concern.

However, if anesthesia had never been conceived, a surgical procedure could still be performed, albeit with much difficulty. Such was not the case with listerism. Without antisepsis and asepsis, major surgical operations more than likely ended in death rather than just pain. Clearly, surgery needed both anesthesia and antisepsis, but in terms of overall importance, antisepsis proved to be of greater singular impact.

• However, if anesthesia had never been conceived, a surgical procedure could still be performed, albeit with much difficulty. Such was not the case with listerism. Without antisepsis and asepsis, major surgical operations more than likely ended in death rather than just pain. Clearly, surgery needed both anesthesia and antisepsis, but in terms of overall importance, antisepsis proved to be of greater singular impact.

In the long evolution of world surgery, the contributions of several individuals stand out as being preeminent. Lister, an English surgeon, can be placed on such a select list because of his monumental efforts to introduce systematic, scientifically based antisepsis in the treatment of wounds and the performance of surgical operations.

• In the long evolution of world surgery, the contributions of several individuals stand out as being preeminent. Lister, an English surgeon, can be placed on such a select list because of his monumental efforts to introduce systematic, scientifically based antisepsis in the treatment of wounds and the performance of surgical operations.

He pragmatically applied others' research into fermentation and microorganisms to the world of surgery by devising a means of preventing surgical infection and securing its adoption by a skeptical profession.

• He pragmatically applied others' research into fermentation and microorganisms to the world of surgery by devising a means of preventing surgical infection and securing its adoption by a skeptical profession.

It was evident to Lister that a method of destroying bacteria by excessive heat could not be applied to a surgical patient. He turned, instead, to chemical antisepsis and, after experimenting with zinc chloride and the sulfites, decided on carbolic acid. By 1865, Lister was instilling pure carbolic acid into wounds and onto dressings.

• It was evident to Lister that a method of destroying bacteria by excessive heat could not be applied to a surgical patient. He turned, instead, to chemical antisepsis and, after experimenting with zinc chloride and the sulfites, decided on carbolic acid. By 1865, Lister was instilling pure carbolic acid into wounds and onto dressings.