In the mid-1800s, nearly half of all patients who underwent surgery died of post-operative infections. In 1865, Dr. Joseph Lister, son of a prominent physicist, first used a disinfectant during surgery. His actions came after researching why some of his orthopedic patients who had compound fractures contracted gangrene and died. After conferring with famed French chemist Dr. Louis Pasteur, Lister determined that the wounds were contaminated by something in the air.On August 12, 1865, Dr. Lister used carbolic acid to treat a young boy's broken leg, rather than amputating it (as was the common practice). Six weeks later, after applying daily dressing soaked in carbolic acid, the boy's wound had healed. Lister and Pasteur would later suggest that hand washing and instrument sterilization be done before surgery.
The well-known mouthwash Listerine® was named for Dr. Lister.
