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the oldest scientific society of the United States, added additional interest to the evening by [[red underline]] relating his own experiences as a surgeon in the American Civil war [[/red underline]] when asepsis and antisepsis were unknown and the terrific ravages of gangrene, tetanus and other consequences of bacterial infection. He spoke of the immense losses
[[strikethrough]] of surge after s [[/strikethrough]] from [[red underline]] after effects of surgical operations. [[/red underline]] The agonies and ferocious pains endured by [[strikethrough]] po [[/strikethrough]] wounded soldier dying of lock jaw. How he and other surgeons, in their ignorance did not hesitate of [[red underline]] using their surgical instruments from one case to another, disinfection and sterilization being then unknown [[/red underline]] and unthought of. How in some cases when operating on the field, they did not hesitate sharpening their knives on the
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[[red underline]] sole of their boots! [[/red underline]] how surgeons and nurses were the unconscious contributors of infection. How even then altho' [[red underline]] not knowing [[/red underline]] the cause some surgeons, obstetricians and nurses resorted to [[red underline]] the practical thought [[/red underline]] of retiring for a certain period of weeks from any surgical or medical cases so as to remove the [[red underline]] causes of infection. [[/red underline]] How the magnificent work of [[red underline]] Pasteur [[/red underline]] inaugurated an entirely new era in this chaos by providing accurate knowledge on which to base our modern method of surgery. He praised that splendid book: [[red underline]] La Vie de Pasteur" [[/red underline]] of which I am myself such an enthusiast because I [[red underline]] believe there is hardly a more inspiring book for learning to appreciate the value of [[red underline]] Scientific research.
While sitting down for dinner a telegram from [[red underline]] Celine and the children [[/red underline]] was handed to me