Glass flask containing urine

Glass flask, containing urine, prepared  by Lister

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Glass flask, containing urine, prepared by Lister
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Glass flask, containing urine, prepared by Lister, used in his experiments on putrefaction, from 1871-1877

This glass flask was used by Joseph Lister (1827-1912) in his experiments on putrefaction. He boiled urine in flasks of different types. Some had straight necks and others were twisted and bent. Urine in the straight-necked flasks decomposed but the twisted-neck flask, where dust had been caught, remained unchanged. This led Lister, like Pasteur before him, to conclude that “something in the air” or “germs” caused decomposition. From this Lister supposed that germs were the cause of infection, which led him to develop antisepsis. Later, Lister used his flasks as teaching aids in the lecture hall.

Details

Category:
Microbiology
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A629468
Materials:
glass and fabric
Measurements:
overall: 192 mm x 98 mm x 152 mm, .14kg
type:
flask
credit:
Martin, C.