A Smooth Delivery Saved Lives; Stay Committed: Oliver Wendell Holmes spoke out to prevent childbirth deaths.(LEADERS & SUCCESS)

Byline: GLORIA LAU

Oliver Wendell Holmes wasn't well known for his original ideas. But he knew when an idea was worth fighting for.

Throughout the mid-1800s, hundreds of thousands of women died from common blood poisoning during or following childbirth.

At the time, hospitals in America and Europe were filthy. Contagious skin diseases, bloody abscesses and gangrene raged unchecked. Up to 40% of all patients died after amputations meant to save their lives.

Many doctors didn't wash their hands or medical instruments between patients, spreading infection from one to another. Thus many women died of puerperal fever -- commonly called "child-bed fever."

In its more minor form, the infection -- which starts in the genital tract within 10 days after childbirth, miscarriage or abortion -- could cause infertility. Too often, it led to peritonitis, septicemia and death.

Holmes (1809-94) didn't know that the cause of puerperal fever was a lack of hygiene. After analyzing countless cases, he saw that they had one condition in common; treatment by doctors, often in a hospital.