Extraction of cataract : with cases showing results of operation / by John B. Roberts.

  • Roberts, John B. (John Bingham), 1852-1924.
Date:
1889
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Extraction of cataract : with cases showing results of operation / by John B. Roberts. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    EXTRACTION OF CATARACT, WITH CASES SHOWING RESULTS OF OPERATION. By JOHN B. ROBERTS, M.D., PROFESSOR OF BUKOERY IN THE WOMAN’S MEDICAL COLLEGE OF PENNSYLVANIA, AND IN THE PHILADELPHIA POLYCLINIC, [Read October 23, 1889.] As ophthalmological subjects are very infrequently presented for the consideration of this Society, I venture to bring forward for dis- cussion the Extraction of Cataract, because it is one of the most important topics with which ophthalmologists have to deal, and because it will be interesting and instructive to me to hear described the methods of operation adopted by other ophthalmic surgeons of this city. I shall simply give you a brief outline of the steps of the operation in my hands, and report the cases upon which I operated from June 1, 1888, to May 1, 1889. As I was absent during the two summer months, it represents the work of nine months’ private pi-actice. Al- though these cases are not very numerous, being only some twelve or fourteen cataracts in all, they are sufficient to illustrate the points which I desii’e to bring forward. It must be remembered that they are reports of cases occurring in the ordinary run of my private oph- thalmic and surgical practice, and not the voluminous hospital records of one occupying the position of ophthalmologist in a hospital or college. In preparing the patient for operation, I cleanse the face in the vicinity of the eyes with soap and water, and subsequently with a solution of boric acid or corrosive sublimate. I then wash out the conjunctival sac with a boric acid solution instilled with an ordinary pipette. The instruments are kept in a similar solution of boric acid, which is made without any great accuracy as to strength. A few drops of a four per cent, solution of hydrochlorate of cocaine are dropped into the eye two or three times during the quarter hour preceding