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 to be accomplished / by G.J. Guthrie ; with remarks by Captain Kater on certain spots discoverable in the human eye, and on the manner of detecting their situation.

  • 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 to be accomplished / by G.J. Guthrie ; with remarks by Captain Kater on certain spots discoverable in the human eye, and on the manner of detecting their situation. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    in the organ, naturally led to the conclusion, that tlie operations required to be performed upon it must be difficult of accomplishment; and the science of optics, in showing the beautiful arrange- ment of its structure, and the complexity of its functions, induced a belief that the slightest altera- tion in its composition must be fatal to its mechanism: but this is not found to be the case. . Few persons can, however, duly estimate the liberties that may be taken with the eye, until they have seen several operations performed; when the false ideas they have imbibed will be com- pletely removed, and new feelings will arise, in admiration of the benignity of the Creator, who, in rendering the eyeball nearly insensible, enables it, in its quiescent state, to undergo those opera- tions which are frequently necessary for the recovery of sight. If the extreme sensibility of the eye was not removed by the separation of the lids, it would be impossible to perform an operation upon it, no person could submit to it, however firm and courageous he might be; and those who were once afflicted with cataract must have remained blind for life. The sensi- bility of the eye after the separation of the lids, is so comparatively dull, that nothing beyond uneasiness is experienced on touching the surface of it; many per- sons are, nevertheless, extremely agitated when this is done for the first time, the eye rolls in every direc- tion, and is drawn forcibly backwards into the orbit with a considerable effort. If the patient be kindly spoken to, and soothed into a little quietude, the eye