LORD LISTER
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
SIR,—The short, timely article in the Spectator of April 16th brings to my mind an experience which I offer to you as a modest contribution to the Lister Centennial. Time : About thirty years ago. Place : The newly finished operating room at St. Thomas's Hospital, London, devoted, if I remember rightly, exclusively to surgical work on children.
On the occasion of the opening Lord Lister made a short inaugural address. He expressed his admiration of the beauty of the operating theatre—the marble, glass and other materials that went into its construction—the splendid lighting and all-round hygienic measures at the disposal of the staff— everything so favourable to good surgical work.
Then his features changed from an expression of quiet dignity to one of friendly encouraging good humour, and addressing himself more directly to the many young assistants and surgeons present, he said :-
"Will my young friends permit me to state that after leaving this hospital, with its luxuriously appointed operating rooms, they will often, in the course of practice, have to do their work among surroundings much less desirable than those offered here. They will have to operate in the country, with difficult light and dubious cleanliness, on improvised tables, and it will'be necessary for them to create for themselves the favourable conditions so essential to good surgical results. You remember that I have done most of my work in the Royal Infirmary of Glasgow—in circumstances much less propitious than those existing here—and it is not for me to say whether have done the work well ! Prepare then to do your surgical .work well regardless of attendant difficulties."
In my opinion, words of such modesty, emanating from so great a man, deserve to live, and for that reason I have taken the liberty of bringing them to your attention.—I am, Sir, &c., ADOLPH BARKAN
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