Antiseptic Surgery: Its Principles, Practice, History and Results

work by Cheyne

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July 15, 2026

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Sir William Watson Cheyne's Antiseptic Surgery: Its Principles, Practice, History and Results (1882) was a significant work in the field of antiseptic surgery. Cheyne, a follower of Joseph Lister, championed Lister's methods, which aimed to prevent infection by using antiseptic barriers like carbolic acid to create a sterile surgical environment. This approach revolutionized surgery by drastically reducing infections and deaths. The book covered the foundational principles, practical applications, historical development, and outcomes of antiseptic surgery, contributing to the broader understanding and adoption of germ theory in medical practice.12

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Sir William Watson Cheyne, 1st Baronet
…Cheyne published the important work Antiseptic Surgery: Its Principles, Practice, History and Results and followed this three years later with his book Lister and His Achievements (1885). The work he did in his early career on preventive medicine and on the bacterial causes of disease was strongly influenced by that…
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…Cheyne published the important work Antiseptic Surgery: Its Principles, Practice, History and Results and followed this three years later with his book Lister and His Achievements (1885). The work he did in his early career on preventive medicine and on the bacterial causes of disease was strongly influenced by that…
Read More