Chapter 03 of 5
Chlorine and Silence
The handwashing rule that saved hundreds, and the doctors who refused to believe it.
- The Rule
Wash before you touch
From May 1847, anyone coming from the autopsy room had to scrub their hands in chlorinated lime before examining patients.
- The Basin
A sting in the hands
The solution was harsh on the skin. Some students grumbled, but Semmelweis enforced the rule strictly.
- The Before
A terrible April
In April 1847, the month before the rule, over 18% of mothers in the First Clinic died. That's nearly one in five.
17 more cards in this chapter
Could you answer this?
What did Semmelweis make doctors wash their hands in?
🧼 The Doctor Who Said Wash Your Hands
- 01The Two ClinicsWhy giving birth in one Vienna ward was far deadlier than in the ward next door.
- 02A Fatal CutA friend's death in the dissecting room revealed what doctors were carrying.
- 03Chlorine and SilenceThe handwashing rule that saved hundreds, and the doctors who refused to believe it.
- 04Calling Them MurderersA long-awaited book, a cold reception and a series of furious open letters.
- 05The Germ of TruthA lonely death, a vindication that came too late, and why we still talk about him.