On the certainty and safety with which the operation for the extraction of a cataract from the human eye may be performed, and on the means by which it is accomplished / With remarks by Captain Kater ... on certain spots discoverable in the human eye.

  • Guthrie, G. J. (George James), 1785-1856
Date:
1834
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the certainty and safety with which the operation for the extraction of a cataract from the human eye may be performed, and on the means by which it is accomplished / With remarks by Captain Kater ... on certain spots discoverable in the human eye. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    the patient may be nearly blind, yet the anterior part of the lens scarcely partakes of the disease; and when the opacity is seen through it, its surface shows what may be compared to a thicker coat of polish. In such cases the lens is generally found to be very hard, but thinner than natural. When a hard cataract is of a white colour, it has been compared to a white cornelian ; it has not a bluish tint, but always a dense appearance, implying a solid body, and a fine smooth or polished surface; it is not in general of a white colour, neither is it clouded or speckled, marks which are indicative of a soft cataract. It is necessary to remark, that although a hard cataract preserves its natural size, or is even less, and therefore at a distance from the iris, a soft cataract is not always protuberant. The operation being decided upon, the question of preparation is one usually considered of importance. It appears to me, that the same preparation only is required that would be considered necessary previously to the performance of any surgical operation of im¬ portance, and particularly about the head. If the patient is in good health, and free from any appear¬ ance of disease, nothing more is wanting than a couple of gentle doses of physic, and moderate absti¬ nence during the week preceding the operation. If the patient has lived regularly well, and is disposed to be of a full habit, twelve ounces of blood may be taken from the arm the evening before the operation. If the health is impaired from an irregular mode of life, it should be amended. If a fit of the gout is