"Gates of death" - just like this in the XIX century named operating theatres. All because half those, who got in a hospital or on an operating table, died either to or after realization of procedures, although they became painless after appearance of ether. This was an epoch, when even a simple break could result in amputation, because surgeons and train nurse and did not think to wash hands and instruments, they did not know that thus kill those, who it was wanted to put on feet.The riddle of postoperative death long time remained without an answer, and only Joseph Листер was able to decide her, taking advantage of microscope, natural curiosity, excessive persistence and faith in the light future. He declared microbes, but not air by the source of all infections and offered solution of problem, changing medicine the same forever.But the way of him was not simple.