Aseptic operating theatre technique.

England : British Medical Association, 1933.

1 film reel (19 min.) : silent, black and white ; 16 mm

00:19:00

Title from opening credits.

Segment 1. An intertitle lists the various methods of sterilising surgical instruments: Autoclave, boiling water, boiling oil, naked flame, immersion in antiseptics, paraform vapour and dry heat. The first to be shown is the Autoclave. A nurse wearing a gown is seen wrapping instruments and putting them into a drum. Intertitles explain that the outer jacket of the Autoclave is heated by steam to prevent condensation in the sterilising chamber itself, and that the inner sterilisation chamber is fed with steam at a pressure of 20lbs per square inch. The drums of instruments are placed inside the chamber. More intertitles explain that the materials are subjected to a heat of 260fahr. for twenty minutes. The next method of sterilisation shown is sterilisation by boiling. Boiling oil is then demonstrated. A syringe is inserted into a test tube of boiling oil and the oil drawn up. Next, naked flame is demonstrated by showing a hypodermic needle being held in a flame, and by swirling spirit around a bowl and then the spirit being lit with a match. Time start: 00:00:00:00 Time end: 00:06:01:03 Length: 00:06:01:03

Segment 2. The method of using antiseptic liquid is demonstrated. Instruments are seen being placed into a dish filled with antiseptic liquid. Next, the use of paraform is shown, with instruments placed inside a case, paraform tablets placed underneath and the case locked. The oven used for dry heat baking is briefly seen. Next, the correct way to wash hands before an operation is demonstrated, as are the correct ways to lay out instruments and to get dressed. A patient is then seen being prepared for an operation on the knee, with their hands being folded out of the way and their body being covered, exposing only the knee, which is swabbed. Time start: 00:06:01:03 Time end: 00:12:20:24 Length: 00:06:19:21

Produced by A. H. Todd.

Public Domain Mark.

Copyright previously held by British Medical Association and assigned to Wellcome in 2005.