ASEPSIS AND ANTISEPSIS IN OTOLOGY.

Abstract

The application of the principles of asepsis in all their details has brought great progress in general surgery, in hygiene and in the particular branches of gynecology, obstetrics and ophthalmology; but in some other departments of medicine much is still to be done, before the ideal condition desired by the friends of asepsis will have been attained. Among these latter it seems to me that otology must be included, and that as regards it, the greatest number of scientists underrate the value and misunderstand the necessity for the strictest asepsis. Of course in large operations the instruments are boiled, the patient is cleaned, and as a rule the operator's hands are more or less carefully disinfected. But between this and a complete, consistent and thorough asepsis there is a wide difference. The principles of asepsis should be carried out in otology in the routine examinations of the ear, and especially