What's a germ, Joseph Lister? The medical mystery that forever changed the way we heal

Alexander introduces readers to Joseph Lister, a UK surgeon and physician who dedicated his career to preventing hospital deaths and alerting colleagues to the dangers of germs. She details Lister's early interest in nature, his medical training, and his efforts to improve patient survival in hospitals, which led to experiments, the discovery of germs, and the use of clean tools and antiseptics to prevent infections. Of note are the chapters describing Lister's successful surgery on Queen Victoria and his consultation on King Edward VII's appendectomy. Interspersed throughout are sections on the history of surgery, the efforts of Louis Pasteur, and the work of Robert Koch. Nearly every spread contains at least one full-color illustration, rendered in a humorous cartoon style. Greens and blood reds predominate, and some scenes (particularly historical surgeries) are rather lurid. Frequent sidebars describe related topics (public dissections; women in science), adding depth to the presentation. Including generous back matter (historic photographs, time line, glossary, source notes, and recommended reading), this eminently readable offering fills a void and should fascinate would-be physicians.

A biography of Joseph Lister focused on his advancements in antiseptic medicine. Joseph Lister lived at a time when hospitals were dirty places and surgery was a brutal affair that frequently ended in death from hospital-born infections. Yet young Joseph was fascinated by how bodies worked, and he grew up to become a surgeon who tackled the mystery of why so many people died after surgeries. He systematically studied the role of inflammation in healing and--inspired by the work of Louis Pasteur--tested the theory that the infectious agent was microscopic. His story is told in clear, easy-to-read text; the clean prose is especially helpful when showing how he used the scientific method to refine his understanding. The curiosity that drove Joseph powers the mystery of the book and makes him a relatable, admirable figure. The text is broken up with illustrations, some full-page and many more in spotlight format. The use of sidebars and additional context from other scientific minds working on germ theory stumbles only in the conclusion of a brief discussion of Ignaz Semmelweis ("With his research ignored, Semmelweis went mad and eventually died in a mental institution"), which oversimplifies and uses othering language. Extensive backmatter includes relevant photographs and images, a timeline, a glossary, source notes by chapter, a bibliography, and an index. Final art unseen. A compelling read sure to inspire young minds. (Biography. 8-14) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.