JOSEPH LISTER (1827-1912)An 8pp. a.l.s. by Lister, dated 12 Park Crescent, Portland Place, 20 December 1900, to Dr. E. J. Thorpe F.R.S., Government Laboratory, Strand, W.C., discussing mediums to mix with carbolic acid for the purpose of a dressing, namely oil, resin and paraffin: "Oil, resin etc. can be blended in any proportions with carbolic acid, but hold it with different degrees of tenacity, Olive oil holds it comparitively feebly, resin very tenaciously ... Hence the mixture with resin is valuable for a dressing; for it gives off but little acid (not sufficient for the antiseptic purpose) ... The mixture of resin and carbolic acid is, however, very sticky, and is thus by itself quite unsuitable. Paraffin, curiously enough, though an organic substance, will not blend in the least with carbolic acid ... it will blend with a mixture of carbolic acid and resin ... which retains the acid well ... With a syringe, some of the hot mixture ... is sprinkled over the upper layer of the gauze ... [and] left for a while for the hot carbolic mixture to diffuse ... This was one way; but other methods were introduced when the demand for the gauze increased;" contained in its original stamped addressed envelope.