Reticence in Action: The Antisepsis Controversy.

The very efficacy of antisepsis put its inventor, Joseph Lister, in a difficult diplomatic position—one that required him not to attack those who, for whatever misguided reason, refused to adopt the new technique. Lister’s writings are notably understated, and it is in keeping with their humility of expression that he does not orate against those who resisted antisepsis at such cost to their patients [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]