Syringe used by Joseph Lister in his experiments on the souring of milk, United Kingdom, 1871-1878
- Made:
- 1871-1878 in United Kingdom
- maker:
- Unknown

Syringe used by Joseph Lister in experiments on the souring of milk, c. 1878
This glass syringe was used by Joseph Lister (1827-1912) in his experiments on the souring of milk. He discovered that milk straight from the animal is generally free from bacteria. But when examining sour milk he found that the micro-organisms present were of a type which he had previously named Bacterium lactis. The syringe could measure one or more hundredths of a minim – a minim being 0.062 ml. Such accurate measurements meant that Lister could calculate the number of bacteria in as little as one fiftieth of a minim. Lister’s work on the souring of milk is rarely mentioned as it is normally eclipsed by his work on antisepsis.
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Details
- Category:
- Microbiology
- Object Number:
- A600316
- Materials:
- barrel and nozzle, glass, mounts, metal and piston & handle, metal
- type:
- syringe
- taxonomy:
-
- furnishing and equipment
- tools & equipment
- medical instrument
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