Final answer:
The Antiseptic theory, which falls under the germ theory of disease, supports the use of presurgical phenol spray pioneered by Joseph Lister, to reduce post-surgical infections.
Step-by-step explanation:
The theory that supports the early aseptic use of presurgical phenol spray is d) Antiseptic theory. The antiseptic theory is part of the broader germ theory of disease, which states that microorganisms are the cause of many diseases. The British surgeon, Joseph Lister, was a proponent of the germ theory and in the 1860s, began utilizing phenol as an antiseptic. He demanded the use of a 5% carbolic acid solution, which is another name for phenol, for cleaning surgical tools and also sprayed the solution on bandages and over the surgical site. His protocols drastically reduced post-surgical infections. Phenols are now widely recognized for their antiseptic properties, although phenol itself is no longer used due to its toxicity.