Joseph Lister

The Right Honourable The Lord Lister OM PC PRS
Photograph of Lister in 1902
President of the Royal Society
In office 1895–1900
Preceded by	The Lord Kelvin
Succeeded by	Sir William Huggins
Personal details
Born	(1827-04-05)5 April 1827 Upton House, West Ham, England
Died	10 February 1912(1912-02-10) (aged 84) Walmer, Kent, England
Nationality	British
Spouse(s)	Agnes Lister (nee Syme)
Signature
Alma mater	University College London
Known for	Surgical sterile techniques
Awards	Royal Medal (1880) Albert Medal (1894) Copley Medal (1902)
Scientific career
Fields	Medicine
Institutions	King's College London University of Glasgow University of Edinburgh University College London

Lister's carbolic steam spray apparatus, Hunterian Museum, Glasgow

Joseph Lister, 1st Baron Lister, OM PC PRS FRS (5 April 1827 – 10 February 1912) was a British surgeon and a pioneer of antiseptic surgery.

He promoted the idea of sterile surgery while working at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary. Lister successfully introduced carbolic acid (phenol) to sterilise surgical instruments and to clean wounds.

Applying Louis Pasteur's advances in microbiology, Lister championed the use of carbolic acid as an antiseptic, so that it became the first widely used antiseptic in surgery.

He knew it was used to ease the stench from fields irrigated with sewage waste. He thought it was safe because fields treated with carbolic acid had no ill-effects on the livestock that grazed on them.

By 1890, Lister stopped using carbolic acid, due to the dangerous side effects for both patient and surgeon. Rather, he began to use a mask and surgical gloves to prevent infection.

Lister's work led to a reduction in post-operative infections (infections after an operation). This made surgery safer for patients. So he became known as the "father of modern surgery".