Joseph (Lord L.), English surgeon, 1827–1912. See Listerella, Listeria, listerism, L. dressing, L. method, L. tubercle.
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Lis·ter (lisґtər) Baron Joseph, 1827–1912. English surgeon who, following Pasteur's theory that bacteria cause infection, introduced to surgery the principle of antisepsis. In 1865 Lister, using carbolic acid as his antiseptic agent together with heat-sterilized instruments, greatly reduced postoperative mortality.Medical dictionary. 2011.