An address delivered before the Suffolk District Medical Society, Boston, April 30, 1853.

  • Williams, Henry W. (Henry Willard), 1821-1895.
Date:
1853
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An address delivered before the Suffolk District Medical Society, Boston, April 30, 1853. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    In proportion to the rapid advance which the last half century has witnessed in the knowledge of Ophthalmology, it would seem to have received less attention from the great body of the Profession. While we are able to determine the nature of dis- eases of internal organs with an accuracy which shames the oracular ambiguity of pretended, as it would the untaught perception of real clairvoyance: while we can ascertain, in many cases with absolute certainty, not only that a lung is diseased, but the position and extent of the morbid alteration, and even the tissue in which it has its seat:—we have contented ourselves with a less perfect diagnosis of affections of an organ whose position is favorable to the closest scrutiny. As we increase our skill in detecting other pathological changes, we surely should not rest satisfied while the inflammations of one tissue of the eye cannot be distinguished from those of another. Probably there was never a time when an ac- quaintance with these affections was of more impor- tance to the general practitioner. Circumstances must often bring them under his care, even should he wish to avoid them; and they pursue so obvious a course, that the success or failure of treatment