摘要: American physician and poet Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., quoted above, reportedly the inspiration for “Holmes” in name Sherlock was a champion of prevention. In time when physicians had precious little to offer way useful remedies, Holmes (Oliver Wendell, not Sherlock) once quipped that if drugs day were tossed into sea it would be better mankind – but all worse fishes. 1843, published an article New England Quarterly Journal Medicine Surgery. His paper theorized puerperal sepsis just might transmitted by contact. If true, then prevented simple act hand-washing, notion challenged contemporary belief physicians, being gentlemen, simply could have contaminated hands [2]. Students medical history will note Holmes’ report predated 1847 findings Ignaz Semmelweis (1818–1865) Vienna 4 years.