The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1852-05-12
DR.. Brainerd's Lecture on the Eye.

the Human Eye. His subject was
treated in a philosophical aud candid
manner aud though he adv dnced some
new principles, al variance with certain
received opinions, aud claimed TO have
made some important discoveries, he was
listened 10 with attention aud Interest,"
apparently securing large share of con-
fideuce from those present. Among
those who expressed their Satisfaction
with the Lecture, was one Of our older
physicians, who publicly stated his high
opinion Of the candor OF the spea ker
without taking exceptions to any of the
principles laid dowu,or TO the assertions
made,
Not having taken notes at the time,
we can give only an incomplete outline
Of the Lecture As considerable inter
est in the subject has been awakened
here, however, we will state, in
brief, the principal points, as well as we
can rccollec, them. DR.. BRAINEnD said
he would speak Of Old Age, Short.slght-
,edness, Oph'halmia' Amaurosls, anO ln>
cidental affections, concluding with
statements of several cases su cessfuly
treated by him. of these different dcscrip-
tons
!. old Agc, as defined by the medi'
cal faculty, is a haitening Of the lenses
Of the eye, thereby rendering them too
concaye to concentrate the rays of
ligh, at the proper focus. on the 'reilna.
A second definition has been given by
Henry Clay Wallace, NJ. D., late of Ed
inburgh now of New York. who prononn-
ces this disease an enfeebing of the
muscles of The eye. through the enerva,'
ing effects Of age. lie (Dr. b J adds
third cause. to the preceding, alirlbui-
ing the ocular disease known as Old
Age 10. LIST want Of circulation IN the
capillary vessels Of the eve; ID, flatten-
ing Of the lenses and Sd, enfeebling Of
the muscles.
The nulriment Of the system is con-
veycd to ITS different parts through the
blood. Hence, when the circulation IN
any part becomes defective, disease SUI
pervencs. In treating cases "fOId Age,
Dr. BIS object is to control the circula-
ton of the blood in the capillary vessels,
bv means of his Eye Cups thus re-
vuaIizing and invigoraiing the muscles,
aud restoring their former activity. THIS
is effected by removing the atmospheric
pressure from the surface. 10y the Use Of
The before>named instruments, invented
and patented by Mr.. Ball and himself
DR.. b. referred 10 the case OF the
Younger President ADAMS, who presery>
ed his sight to great age, without ever
using glasses, by means somewhat SINH
lar, as has been often stated.
H. Short sightedness In relation
10 this state of the eye, DR.. Brainerd
PROCESSES 10 have made an Important DIS.
covery. The medical faculty have d.
ways termed it TOO great convexness-
the opposite ofihe prec eding. lie rec
ognizes two kinds of short .sighiedness
in which case the lenses are
too convex from birth, and sympathetic,
that which is caused by measles, overs
eyertion in study, &c, &c. In this
case, a Weakness of the muscles is the
source of the difficulty which can he re-
moved by a lreatmen, similar to the pre-
ceding.
III. Ophthatmia. This is term
applied to weakness and Inflammation Of
Of the eye, Of all kinds. By the use of
the Eye Cups. the muscles become
s'fengthened,a healthy circulation is re-
stored, &c. In these cases the remedy
has never failed.
w. 1mduroSiS is attributed to a par
alysis of the optic nerve. The symptoms
are specks. blurrlng, fnggy appearance,
&c. This disease has always, hereto,
fore. been pronounced incurabie. lis
exact nature has, in fact, always been
a mystery. Eyes thus diseased have .al,
ter death. been dissected, but never, in
any case, has anything appeared 10 dis
tlnguish them from healthy organs.
V. Incidental cases were then spoken
as occasional blurring, blind,
ness from lifting, from the explosion of
powder from working over hot irons the
sight Of one eye defective, falling of the
eyelids, &c. In these cases The Cups
have proved beneficial.
DR.. Brainerd ha. statements Of over
1900 cases treated by him. The follow
ing were particularly described Mrs
Susan Webb, of Greenwich. Mass,
aged GA after using The cups three weeks,
had her sight restored so as 10 dispense
with her glasses enIircly-recent inlor,
nation showing after several months that