Sir Joseph Lister Trivia Quiz

Answer: He was a Quaker.

Joseph's family was in the Society of Friends, a Christian group created in England during the 17th century. They were formed after people started becoming dissatisfied with the Church of England. He was raised in a Quaker setting. Making an oath of this type would go strongly against his family's Quaker religious beliefs. Since the University College of London was nonsectarian, it was sometimes referred to as the Godless College.

In the other universities, the education was arranged to include the church's teachings and opinions on the subjects.

Answer: human dissection

Up into this new era in medicine, human dissection was punishable by death. The material students had been learning from was sometimes obsolete by hundreds of years. The Greek physician Galen (129 to 216 AD)was the relied upon standard in physiology for centuries.

It wasn't until human dissection became more prevalent that it was realized Galen's work had been based on animals, such as monkeys and dogs.

Answer: Scotland

They originally settled in Edinburgh, where he was the assistant surgeon at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. Nine years later, in 1859, they moved to Glasgow. There, Lister filled the position of Regius Professorship of Surgery at Glasgow University. He changed positions again in 1861. Glasgow Royal Infirmary made him accountable for the new surgical building and designated him surgeon.

Answer: hospitalism

Hospitalism was the cause of the catastrophic hospital mortality rate. It has been said hospitals of that time were somewhere you went to die, not to recover. The problem was that no one really knew what caused it. Experienced surgeons were reluctant to listen to knew ideas. Surgeries only had about a 50% survival rate due to the strong risk of infection.

This was a period of time doing something like breaking your arm could put your life at risk.

Answer: the astonishing survival rate of Lister's patients

Lister had heard about the use of Carbolic Acid (phenol) to treat raw sewage. Although they were not sure as to why, the sewage odor was being removed. Lister began to experiment with it. He started using it to soak his sutures, clean his tools, soak bandages, and spray on wounds.

The acid was strong and would leave some chemical burns behind on the skin, but suddenly people were living. The death rate of post amputation patients dropped in Lister's patients. Amputations went from about 40% mortality to about 3%.

This was astonishing and the other surgeons now had to pay attention.

Answer: Help put an end to animal testing.

Queen Victoria was disturbed by animal testing. One procedure common during that time was called vivisection. This was basically dissecting an animal while it was still alive. She asked Lister to put it to an end. Lister still felt there was a need for animal testing, but he did write letters campaigning for improved treatment of lab animals.

In 1876, the Cruelty to Animals Act passed. For this service, as well as others, Queen Victoria knighted Joseph Lister in 1883.

Answer: compound microscope

Hans Jansen and his sons are credited with making the very first compound microscope. Joseph Jackson Lister took this and built upon it. He overcame many of the more common problems, making it a finer more usable instrument. He published several papers. Some of his principles are still used as a standard today.

Answer: Yes

The name was changed to Lister Institute of Preventative Medicine, in Joseph Lister's honor. The Institute hit financial troubles in the 1970's, but recovered and is still running today.

Answer: dissolving stitches

Lister created many new techniques. Among these were naturally dissolving catgut stitches and rubber drainage tubing. He first introduced the use of rubber drainage tubing on Queen Victoria. He was personal surgeon to the queen for several years.

Answer: secretaryship of the Royal Society

Although Joseph and Agnes had no children, they were said to have a very happy marriage. Her death came as a great personal blow to him. When he became despondent, his friends encouraged him to go after this position. He was appointed and accepted. Being active again in the scientific community seemed to revitalize him.

He remained active until his own death of pneumonia in 1912. He was buried next to his wife in Westminster Abbey.