Scot Med J
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Modern management of diabetic ketoacidosis has reduced mortality of this condition from inevitable death in the pre-insulin era to less than 5% in specialised centres. Most fatalities now reflect the underlying disease which has caused metabolic decompensation, such as acute myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident or septicaemia. However patients may still die as a direct result of the metabolic disturbances per se and the rare complication of cerebral oedema in diabetic ketoacidosis is almost invariably associated with fatal outcome.
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A Lister 'steam spray producer' in the possession of Aberdeen University is described. The introduction of antiseptic surgery to Aberdeen by Alexander Ogston and the subsequent adoption of the spray and its enthusiastic use by him is recounted, with emphasis on the final years of its employment as part of the antiseptic ritual.