Retrospect of the progress of surgical literature, for the year 1838-9 / by Messrs. Newnham, W. Wickham, and Salter.

  • Newnham, W. (William), 1790-1865.
Date:
1839
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Retrospect of the progress of surgical literature, for the year 1838-9 / by Messrs. Newnham, W. Wickham, and Salter. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    state of acute inflammatory chemosis* with sloughing cornea* which is rendered valuable from the practical results to which it has led its author. Mr. Tyrrell conceives* and we think him borne out in his arguments* that the cause of the loss of vitality of the cornea arises from strangulation of the corneal vessels. The chief vascular supply of the cornea is from the conjunctival vessels. Now* where the sclerotic conjunctiva is much elevated by acute chemosis* there is so great a strain on the vessels entering the cornea* as to effect a virtual strangu¬ lation of them; the result of which is that the cornea first loses its transparency* then its lustre* and finally sloughs. The success of Mr. Tyrrell’s treatment* by freely dividing the con¬ junctiva to the margin of the cornea* so as to relieve the strain* is a practical proof of the correctness of his views. These cases, happily* occur but seldom in the country; but the rapid progress of the disease* and almost certain destruction of the organ* where they do occur* give us so little hope of doing good* but by a corresponding activity and boldness of treatment, that the principles laid down by Mr. Tyrrell should be thoroughly known* in order that the surgeon may adopt them speedily and fearlessly. We congratulate the profession and the public on the ap¬ pearance of Mr. Pilcher’s work* on the “ Anatomy and Diseases of the Ear;” a subject which has been long lost sight of* and which* on account of its intricacy* has been too frequently immolated on the altar of empiricism. In the treatment of varices* M. Helot gives the result of his own experience in twenty cases* in which the plan of Velpeau* of sliding a needle under the vein* and then with a twisted ligature, arresting the circulation, by bringing the opposite edges of the diseased vein into contact* until the vessel has been divided: this result is extremely favorable* but occasional relapses occur.