Final answer:
The claim that Facastoro utilized carbolic acid for sterilization is false; it was actually Joseph Lister who introduced the use of carbolic acid, or phenol, to sterilize medical instruments and reduce post-surgical infections.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that Facastoro was best known for using carbolic acid to sterilize medical instruments is false. The correct individual associated with this practice is Joseph Lister. In the mid-1800s, Lister, a British surgeon, introduced groundbreaking procedures for the proper care of surgical wounds and the sterilization of surgical equipment.
He discovered the disinfectant properties of carbolic acid, also known as phenol, and began using a 5% solution to clean surgical tools. Lister's practices, including handwashing with a dilute solution of carbolic acid and the disinfection of surgical sites and bandages, significantly decreased the incidence of post-surgical infections and improved the success of surgeries.
These advancements contributed to the widespread acceptance of the germ theory of disease and became standard medical practice.