A probationary surgical essay on cataract : submitted ... to the examination of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, ... / by James Keith.

  • Keith, James, 1783-1863.
Date:
September 1810
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A probationary surgical essay on cataract : submitted ... to the examination of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, ... / by James Keith. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    25/32 (page 21)
    I ( 21 ) . pi], and the divided part removed by the point of tin* needle, or by the introduction of forceps *. Before binding up the eye, the surgeon should ta^G care that the edges of the wound are accurately adjust¬ ed, and the under eyelid passed carefully over it. A light compress is then to be laid over the eye, and se¬ cured by a bandage, with such a degree of pressure as will prevent the motion of the e}relids ; if the compress is slightly moistened, it can be applied more equally, and by conforming itself to the shape of the eye, when it dries it will more effectually prevent their motion. A recumbent posture, with the head moderately elevated, the repetition of the venaesection, and the observance of a strict diet, are then to be recommended. The aque¬ ous humour continues to flow for upwards of forty-eight ‘hours, at the end of which time, the wound of the cor¬ nea, unless prevented by any foreign body, unites. About the third day, after bathing the eyelids with luke¬ warm water, the eye itself may be examined, and in successful cases, where there is no appearance of violent inflammation, the patient may gradually enure himself to greater degrees of light, and to the use of his new restored vision. But as, from the loss of the lens, by which the chief refraction of light in the eye takes place, the rays will converge to a focus, previous to striking on the retina, and thereby cause indistinct vi¬ sion, its place must be supplied by the use of convex lenses;