Atlas and epitome of operative ophthalmology / by O. Haab ; edited by G. E. de Schweinitz.
- Otto Haab
- Date:
- 1905
Licence: In copyright
Credit: Atlas and epitome of operative ophthalmology / by O. Haab ; edited by G. E. de Schweinitz. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by UCL Library Services. The original may be consulted at UCL (University College London)
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![but it has remained for de Leon to demonstrate just how frequently it may be responsible for the instances of so-called unavoidable surgical infection. From a long series of careful and well-controlled experiments, he has obtained some very striking results. It was found that on the average about two hundred words were spoken by the operator alone in an ordinary opera- tion. On an average, in each drop of saliva occur 4375 bacteria, and in the duration of an average opera- tion 250,000 organisms may gain direct entrance to the wound. Among these, virulent organisms are constantly present, streptococci, diplococci, and staphylococci, in order of their frequency. To avoid this source of con- tamination, de Leon devised a simple mouth-mask which is efficacious and not burdensome and does not interfere with distinct articulation. Some bacteria were found to penetrate a gauze mouth-covering, though the num- ber was materially reduced. If experience has shown that wounds are usually capable of withstanding a large number of bacteria, it has also demonstrated that under suitable conditions a few bacteria may give rise to serious and even fatal infection. Surgeons who have good per- sonal technic and equally careful assistants should con- sider this fruitful source of infection, particularly where teaching makes more continuous and louder talking a necessity.—Ed.] 2. In handling the instruments immediately before and after the operation great care is necessary to avoid bring- ing them in contact with any unclean object. This pre- caution is particularly important as regards knives and needles which are to be introduced within the eye. It has long been a matter of experience, and the accident still occurs, although less frequently than formerly, that an operation of this kind, especially for cataract or one of a secondary nature, is followed by an intense purulent in- fection or a subacute inflammation, although no cause for the accident can be found. The catastrophy falls like a bolt from the blue, and not only the affected eye is](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21286826_0064.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
