A practical inquiry into the causes of the frequent failure of the operations of depression, and of the extraction of the cataract, as usually performed, with the description of a series of new and improved operations, by the practice of which, most of these causes of failure may be avoided. Illustrated by tables of the comparative success of the new and old modes of practice / by Sir William Adams.

  • William Adams
Date:
1817
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A practical inquiry into the causes of the frequent failure of the operations of depression, and of the extraction of the cataract, as usually performed, with the description of a series of new and improved operations, by the practice of which, most of these causes of failure may be avoided. Illustrated by tables of the comparative success of the new and old modes of practice / by Sir William Adams. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by King’s College London. The original may be consulted at King’s College London.

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    lations are permitted to remain, frequently result from the continued friction of this rough surface of the lids upon the transparent cornea, thereby causing blind- ness. The practice of Mr. Saunders was to snip oft' the eminences with a pair of curved scissors, and fre- quently to inject upon the raw surfaces a strong solu- tion of lunar caustic. The inflammation and pain excited by this treatment were extreme, and the patient rarely recovered from the most acute sufferings under twenty-four hours. As this application was repeated every three or four weeks, and even oftener when the ejes would admit of it, the extraordinary patience, resolution, and fortitude which Mr. Fidkins displayed, were absolutely necessary, to secure the benefit which he ultimately received. The following letter fully explains his situation :— Hamvay Street, Oxford Street, February 4,1815. Dear Sir, About eight years since I was afflicted with a most violent inflammation in my eyes, and for two years and a half experienced but very little relief, though ] con- sulted the most eminent gentlemen of the faculty ; at last was recommeuded to Mr. Saunders, who cut off a number of little warts from the inside of my eye- lids, and afterwards injected upon the sore places a strong solution of caustic, which gave me the most excruciating torture for at least twenty-four hours after each operation. This was repeated as often as the state of the eye would admit of it, for it frequently brought on an ulcer, as Mr. Saunders called it, which laid me up at least for a month at a time. I underwent the syringing at least ten times before the right eye was cured. The left eye was cured in the course of two months, but the other took twelve months before it was well. Nobody can imagine the extreme misery the syringing always put me to, and I believe he could hardly persuade any one else to undergo so many operations but myself. He twice opened, and afterwards divided, the arteries of my temples, in order to stop the inflammation. Nothing but the extreme anxiety to get my eyes well would nave induced me to submit to the agony I experienced, which was beyond all description. I shall always revere the name of that good and clever man, whose soothing attention and kindness I remember with the greatest gratitude, and by whose skill now I bless God, I enjoy as good sight as I ever I did, although it ii proper for me to state, that my sight before I went to him was not hurt^ tha disor-.