In what year was the steam steriliser invented?

• A. 1881
• B. 1870
• C. 1895
• D. 1905

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is that using steam under pressure to sterilise instruments allowed reliable destruction of bacteria, something ordinary boiling water struggles to achieve. This is the breakthrough that the steam steriliser, or autoclave, represents: a device that exposes tools and materials to high-temperature steam under pressure so they come out free of microbes. In medical history, the late 19th century saw this technology become practical and widely adopted, with 1881 commonly cited as the year the steam steriliser was introduced into practice. That development underpinned safer surgery by enabling true sterilisation of instruments and, over time, of surrounding processes, supporting the shift toward aseptic methods in hospitals. The other dates do not fit the period when this device was first developed and used, so 1881 is the best match.