A manual and atlas of medical ophthalmoscopy / by W.R. Gowers.

Date:
1890
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A manual and atlas of medical ophthalmoscopy / by W.R. Gowers. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    MEDICAL OPHTHALMOSCOPY. INTEODUCTION. The ophthalmoscope is of use to the physician because it gives information, often not otherwise obtainable, regarding- the existence or natm-e of disease elsewhere than in the eye. This information depends upon the circumstance that we have under observation—1. The termination of an artery and the commencement of a vein, with the blood circulating in each. 2. The termination of a nerve, which, from its close prox- imity to the brain, and from other circumstances, under- goes significant changes in various diseases of the brain, and in affections of other parts of the nervous system. 3. A nervous structure—the retina, and a vascular structure—the choroid—which also suffer in a peculiar way in many general diseases. For the efficient use of the ophthalmoscope in medical practice, the student must be familiar with the use of the instrument; he must also be familiar with the normal fundus oculi, with the changes in its appearance (congenital and other) that are of no significance, and also with those that are ocular in oiigin, such as posterior staphyloma, glaucomatous excavation, and the like. An acquaintance with these must be gained from the ophthalmic surgeon before inferences can safely be drawn regarding the signifi- cance of other alterations met with in various diseases. The following pages assume the possession of a general knowledge of the use of the instrument, but a few words B