Notes on the fifty operations

At the beginning of his report, the author describes in detail the environment in which he operates. The instruments immediately before the operation are boiled in water for 5 minutes, toothed instruments (tweezers, etc.) are calcined on an alcohol lamp; during the operation, they lie in boiled water. For seams, silk is used, boiled in a 5% carbolic solution and stored in a mixture of equal parts of a 1% (? Ref.) Solution of mercuric chloride and absolute alcohol; is used to apply a catgut disinfected previously lying in the course of 12 hours 0.1% mercuric chloride solution and then kept for several days in a mixture of 1 part ol juniperi and 2 parts alcohol. Sponges are rarely used - they are replaced by tampons from aseptic gauze, which are put into 1/2 ‰ solution of mercuric chloride at the time of the operation. The operator and his four assistants put on decontaminated rubber aprons; the sleeves are rolled up above the elbows; hands are washed with green soap and a brush, then with absolute alcohol and mercuric chloride solution. The patient is given a general bath on the eve of the operation and a laxative is given; then, when it is already chloroformed, the hair on mons Veneris is shaved off, the abdominal wall is thoroughly washed with green soap with a brush, sulfuric ether and 1 ‰ solution of mercuric chloride. After that, during the operation itself, the author does not use any disinfectant liquids; the abdominal cavity, if necessary, is washed with boiled water. After the operation, the edges of the abdominal wound are washed with mercuric chloride and pulverized with idoform; then sutures are applied, 3-4 deep, covering the entire thickness of the abdominal walls, and many superficial.