The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-05-10 00:00:00

OPHTHALMIC INSTITUTION.

We have been enabled to procure, fur the gratification of
our readers, the following information respecting the shove
Establishment, in reference to the charge for which, in.
chided iu the Army Estimates fur the year, a question was
directed in the House of Commons on Weduesslay se'imight,
by Mr. J. P. Grant to Lord Palmerston :
A peopoell fur (minding an Establishment of this nature
was made at Inc time the ophthalmia rayed.° extensively in
the army, and after it had been ascertaiued by repeated pub.
lie experiments that the disorder admitted of radical cure,
wail acceded to by Government. A part of York Hospital,
Chelsea, was set apart fur the purposes of the Institution.
Printed circulars were issued to the out-pensioners on the
three brioches of the public service, announcing the forme-
firm of the Institution, and 'nylon' any of them afficted
with any sort of malady in the eyes, after the examination
and approval of the medical assistants dispatched to the
different stations fur the purpose, to proceed to London, in
polar to he admitted thereto. The usual rate of march-
ing money, Is. 10d. a day, was allowed them, from
their homes to the Hospital, as also on their retorts.
A considerable number of pensioners have in corsequence
been admitted, and have undergone treatment or operations
with the must gratifying success. Results an favourable in-
(limed Government to determine on the erection of a new
Hospital, fur the exclusive treatment of pensioners, labour-
ing under the various diseases of the eye. The work was
undertaken by Mr. Nash, and has been carrying nu
for voile time in the Mary-le-bone fields, adjoining the
Regent's Park. It is to tor rented of him by Government
fur a limited number of years, and will shortly be opened
for the receptiuti of patients. It is a plain, simple edifice,
utility having been more mutilated in its execution than
show, and the claims of tamed humanity more at-
tended to than the beauties of architecture.
The materials are principally brick, and in every part of
the structure, exterior and interior, a proper regard to eco-
nomy seems to have been exercised. It consists of three
sides of • small square, the two opposite contai JJ jJ og the
wordy, four in number, capable of affording accomenodatiow
to 130 men. The surgery, surgeons' apartments, kitcheu,
baths, &c. are placed in the connecting range.
The Marquis de Chabaunes' newly-iovented patent appa-
ratus has been introduced, by means of which a very great
saving has been effected in the article of fuel; two fires
being made to satisfy the wants of the entire Hospital, mud
answer all the uses of 13 or 14, which would otherwise be
requisite.
Great Britain could before have produced the noblest
monuments of national eirottificence in the world, is her
splendid piles for the retreat and shelter of those gallant men
who had shed their blood, or spent their health and strength
in the defence of their country. But. notwithstanding, the
want of an Institution arch as we have been describing,
most be acknowledged to have been a desideratum; and
though the new hospital adjoining the Regent's Park cannot
pretend to rank in point of elegance or grandeur with those
of Chelsea or Greenwich, yet its relaters(' must be considered
as a fresh teitimonial of the grateful stud generous disposition
of the nation to alleviate the sufferings of the pensioner. The
I claims of those men, to whose bravery We are indebted for
victory and security, are peculiarly strong; and that the vete-
ran, whose services had cost him the lois, Whether total or
partial, of that most precious and necessary 'ease, the sight,
should be suffered to languish in neglect without au effort
to relieve him by the application of the discoveries which
have been made in treating disorders of the eyes, would, iu
our opinion, be a national reproach.
Within the short interval of time since the formation of
the Ophthalmic Institution, it appears that a considerable
number of pensioners, totally blind for years, have been
restored to sight while a far greater number, who had
been shut out by the diseased state of that organ, from all
active participation in the affairs and many of the du-
ties of life, have been sent home in a condition to resume
their former business, and to labour in their respective
occupations.
The imagination can scarcely devise a more suitable ob-
ject for the exercise of the must exalted benevolence , and
unless the expense be unreasonably great, which, from what-
ever we hare been able to learn, does trot appear to be the
case, we think that every philanthropic mind will approve
of the foundation of an Institution, form which so much be-
nefit has been already afforded, and is still likely to be de.
rived, its a most deserving class of individuals. Some persons
ism the neighbourhood feel a prejudice aga;ust the new Hos.
pital, (ruin an apprehension of the danger of contagion.
No impels caw be more groundless, as the disorders to
he Ileated their have nothing whatever of an infectious no.
lure.