Aseptic surgical technique : with especial reference to gynaecological operations : together with notes on the technique employed in certain supplementary procedures . gle scalpel or needleis required for immediate use. The hot-air sterilizers,which have been introduced especially for the sterili-zation of metal instruments, have been found to beunsatisfactory for this purpose. To make sure thatthe instruments are completely sterile, it is necessaryto keep them in the hot-air sterilizer at a temperatureof from 150° to 180° C. (300°-350° F.) for at leasttwo hours. When one remembers that at lea
Aseptic surgical technique : with especial reference to gynaecological operations : together with notes on the technique employed in certain supplementary procedures . gle scalpel or needleis required for immediate use. The hot-air sterilizers,which have been introduced especially for the sterili-zation of metal instruments, have been found to beunsatisfactory for this purpose. To make sure thatthe instruments are completely sterile, it is necessaryto keep them in the hot-air sterilizer at a temperatureof from 150° to 180° C. (300°-350° F.) for at leasttwo hours. When one remembers that at least twentyminutes or a half an hour is necessary to bring thesterilizer to this temperature, and that some timewill be required to allow the instruments to cool STERILIZATION OF INSTRUMENTS. 81 down, it will be seen that more than two hours arerequired for the whole process. Of course this objec-tion may be obviated by following the recommenda-tion of Poupinel, who suggests that the instrumentsshould be placed in tight metal boxes (Fig. 8) and ster-ilized on the day before the operation, being thenallowed to remain in the boxes until just before they Fig. Instruments in metal box. are needed. But in any case the inconvenience isgreat, and still another serious objection is found inthe fact that, in spite of the greatest care, instrumentsthus treated will almost surely rust, even when thenew ventilated disinfecting ovens are to shorten the time required for sterilizingby hot air have given unfavorable results, and it hasalso been proved that exposure to a temperature above180° C. is deleterious to the temper of the steel, andaifects the hardness and sharpness of the cutting in-struments. Some surgeons prefer to sterilize the instrumentsby means of steam, and employ the Arnold or some 6 82 ASEPTIC SURGICAL TECHNIQUE. other steam sterilizer. The instruments are put inbags made of birds-eye or towel linen, whichare then placed in the sterilizer and exposed
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