Story: Hospitals

Preparing for an operation (1st of 2)

Preparing for an operation

From the 1860s hospitals were made safer by the use of antiseptics such as carbolic acid, and efforts to exclude bacteria and viruses. Here, hospital staff and a patient are shown in an operating theatre in the late 19th century.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, James McAllister Collection (PAColl-3054)
Reference: 1/1-012752; G
Photograph by James McAllister

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Linda Bryder, 'Hospitals - The transformation of hospitals', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/27543/preparing-for-an-operation (accessed 27 April 2024)

Story by Linda Bryder, published 5 May 2011, reviewed & revised 13 Jun 2018, updated 1 Jul 2022