High-frequency current in ophthalmic practice / by L. Webster Fox.

  • Fox, L. Webster (Lawrence Webster), 1853-1931.
Date:
[1907]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: High-frequency current in ophthalmic practice / by L. Webster Fox. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by UCL Library Services. The original may be consulted at UCL (University College London)

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    gestions I had my chief of cHnic, Dr. John A. Brophy, select a variety of cases from blepharitis marginaHs to atrophy of the optic nerve. These cases were then placed under the charge of Dr. A. Weise Hammer, chief of the electrical depart- ment of the Medico-Chirurgical Hospital, who carried out the treatment with the greatest care and accuracy. The majority of cases received the treatment three times per week, some few varieties received daily treatment; the length of the treatment varying from two to twenty minutes, and each patient was kept under treatment until I felt assured no benefit could be derived. Blepharitis marginalis, all forms—loo cases. It was most gratifying to note that while the treatment was more or less difficult to carry out with children, yet in those (lOo) cases to which it was applied the cure was rapid and apparently per- manent. The cases were treated with the spiral vacuum tube ten minutes daily for two weeks. Granular lids—lo cases. After twenty-one treatments to each case there was no apparent benefit, so this was abandoned. It must be noted that the current was passed through the eye- lids, and not against the everted lids—the secretions were pos- sibly lessened. Ulcers of the cornea—25 cases. This covered all forms of ulcers, from simple to Saemisch. The application was made through the eyelids and also directly to the cornea. In the non-vascular, but slight benefit was noticed after ten applica- tions; while with the same number of applications in the ulcerated type, where there was destruction of tissue with pus shreds, the current seemed to retard the destructive process; and in one case of Saemisch it was cured without the aid of drugs or operative procedure. The single electrode was ap- plied directly to the cornea under cocaine in all these cases. My judgment is that the high-frequency current is of some value in these cases, but still I would have to enlarge my ex- perience before replacing it by our known and older methods of treatment. Jritis—5 cases—three specific, two rheumatic. The usual internal treatments, as well as local, was not suspended in these cases. Ten applications were made day by day. There was no noticeable change for the better in the reduction of the con- gestion of the blood vessels, nor was there a notable change in