THE LISTER CENTENARY [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—In
a chorus of Sophocles' Antigone, lines 33I-304, there is a fine descriptions of man's achievements, culminating with a glowing tribute to his triumph over diseases IICIPTOTOpOS• dropot ir' OM, ti7XEra‘ Te AAXOP'"Atda /LJvov ibEittP trekerat• vacraw 5' 41.ivxdvcov ibtryas Evavieppacrat " Man all-providing. Unprovided, he
Meeteth no chance the coming days may bring: Only from Hades, still
He fails to find escape,
Though skill of art may teach him how to flee Prom depths of fell diecaec incurable." (Trans. PLuatrraa.)
Ignorant as the Greek poet was of the existence of "the work? of the infinitely small" reveal. d by Pasteur, and the inestimable boon conferred on humanity by Lister in applying this know• ledge to surgery, the words seem to indicate a prophetic appreciation of their marvellous discoveries, and to deserve our remembrance.--I am, Sir, &c., Lyme Regis. 1, V . J. HARDING.
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