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 Lord Lister and Sir Alexander Fleming

The septic microbes, not so long ago
 * Were to the surgeon a most bitter foe;

They got into the wound, which, thus inflamed,
 * Oft killed the patient or might leaved him maimed.

Twas Lister first showed us the simple way
 * To keep the microbes out, and thus to stay

The dreaded sepsis of but yesterday.

Yet there remained a battle still to win How to destroy the germs that had got in

Twas Fleming showed the way that gap to fill in By finding that great wonder - penicillin Which kills the germs, and has this extra charm It scarcely ever does the patient harm.

Thank God for what these two great men achieved For all the sick they have from death reprieved Or of their ailments painlessly relieved.