Joseph Lister

Born

Apr 5, 1827

Born in West Ham, England to a Joseph Jackson Lister a British opticist and physicist and his wife Isabella Harris.

Bachelor of Arts

1847

Obtains a Bachelor of Arts degree from University college in London.

Royal College of Surgeons

1852

Graduated from University College with a Bachelor of Medicine with honors and became a member of the Royal College of Surgeons.

Edinburgh Royal Infirmary

1856

Appointed as a surgeon at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, after years of being an assistant to James Syme, a famous surgeon of his time.

Invesitgation

1864

Begins searching for antiseptic techniques for wounds, after reading a paper by the famous Louis Pasteur.

Success

1865

Applies a solution of carbolic acid to serious leg wound on a seven year old boy. No infection occurred and the experimental solution was a success. This was a huge breakthrough in medicine, before this discovery wounds often became seriously infected and there was no one such thing as sterilization.

Published

1867

Publishes a paper on his findings called the Antiseptic Principle of the Practice of Surgery. Advocating fellow surgeons to use carbolic acid on wounds, instruments, and hands. In order to to kill any germs that may be present.

Professor

1869

Appointed professor of clinical surgery at King's College London.

Retires

1892

Retires from Kings College.

Passing

Feb 10, 1912

Passed away on February 10, 1912. Leaving behind his knowledge on antiseptic surgery, that revolutionized the medical field and saved countless lives.