In 1867, Joseph Lister introduced antiseptic surgery through a groundbreaking paper published in The Lancet. He detailed the successful use of carbolic acid to sterilize surgical instruments and wounds, significantly reducing post-operative mortality rates. Lister's innovations transformed surgical practices and laid the foundation for modern aseptic techniques, greatly improving patient outcomes.

Joseph Lister's introduction of antiseptic surgery in 1867 revolutionized medical practices and influenced contemporary poetry. Poets began to incorporate clean, clinical imagery into their works, contrasting the chaos of earlier medical narratives with a new focus on precision and healing.