The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1867-09-21

PROGRESS or oPTHALMIc sURGERY-wHAT MAI
BE SEEN IN rHR oFFIOE or AN occuLrsT.
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In pursuance Of a promise made to the
readers Of former issue Of the ADVOCATE, I
will now proceed to notice q few Of the o.
era-ions which I witnessed at the Office Of
DR.. Underwood.
The first case of which snail make men
ton was that Of Capt. D. @. Brown, resi-
dent Of mis- city, and formerly Deputy Sher-
| III of Cook Co. Some twelve years ago,
Capt. Brown, while on hunting excursion,
was severely injured By piece Of gun cap
which came in contact with the ball Of his
left eye. producing Inflammation which en-
tirely destroyed the sight Upon the break
ing out Of the war, Mr.. Brown entered the
army, and for upwards Of three years faith :
fully performed The arduous duties assigned
10 him. During his patriotic career, in cen
sequence Of the exposure incidental 70 the
life Of soldier. Inflammation reinsned,
threatening destruction to the opposite eye.
In order to ares: The progress Of disease
and rescue the opposite organ from it's im-
pending danger, DR.. Underwood, upon con-
sultation, advised the imm, date removal OF
the injured eye, an operation which had
the great good fortune to witness. Il was
truly terrible sight, and had 1t not been for
the sopori6c influence Of chloroform, the SUI
ferings Of the patient would h ve been unen-
durable. The time consumed in the per-
foImauce did not exceed eight or ten min
utes, the patient, meanwhile, lying in
totally unconscious state. After the remov-
a. Of the eve, Dr. Underwood examined the
interior Of the diseased ball, and found two
small pieces Of percussion cap, the cause.
for e twelve long years. Of so much suffer !
ing and annoyance.
Another case Of which shall make allu-
sion, was thar Of little girl scarce thrse
years ef age, who, from birth, had been AZ |
hicted with cancer Of both eyes Upon an |
examination, 1t was considered advisable to |
extirpate the eye upon which the disease had |
msde the most rapid progress. Accordingly, |
IN the presence Of large number Of sur
geons, and few choice spectators, the op- |
GRAFTON was performed. II was distressing |
alternative to adopt, but the only one when |
could possibly be productive Of beneficial |
resrits- I ~, ..Sre take occasion 10 remark |
that from first to last the little sufferer bore
with extraordinary fortitude the operation
to which she was necessarily subjected.
Another case in which | was deeply in
terested, was that in which pair Of cross
eyes were Immediately Strengthened without
the least pain to their unfortunate possessor.
About two minutes was all the time that was
required to perfcrmthis wonderful operation,
and the patient rose from the char greatly |
improved in bis personal appearance.
Although large number Of persons affiict-
ed with cross eyes are continually availng |
themselves OF the benefits to be derived from
this comparatively painless operation, vet it
is surprising that more who are suffering
from this unsightly deformity do not seek
the opportunity afforded them by Opthalmic
Surgeons to assume a pleasing expression
winch Dame Nature has seen fit to deprive
them Of
The cases above cited. are only few Of
very large number which came under my
observation. Similar operations are OF al
most daily occurrence.
By the way, Dad almost emitted TO
mention case which was Of more than or
'is'~-.y i-.-'rsef To vi-' .h~ sn.ovar W.
large tumor on the neck, which was cut out
whilst the patient was under the influence
Of Narcotic Spray. Narcotic Spray is simply
Ether .sctei from an apparatus so con-
structed as to raise the anssthetic 10 the
temperature o, ice, thus freezing the part up
on which the operation 10 to be performed.
In my opinion 1t can hardly be expected
that the genefal physician can obtain crit
cal knowledge Of al the diseases to which
the eye s subject II is only those who have
received a regular education in medicine,
surgery, and its collateral sciences, and who
haze devoted themselves practically to the
medical and surgical treatment of eye dis
rases, who should be entrusted with the
care Of this d-heate organ.
The benefits resulting from Ocular Sur
gerry have come to be known and thoroughly
Apr ciated throughout the length and
feadth Of the Old ard New World. May
I continue IS heretofore, 70 bcstow upon
suffering humanity its healing power. and
thus crown with fresh lanrcls the science
and ART Of Opthalmic Surgery.
THE article is not written Tor the purpose
Of extoling DR.. Understood above other
members of his profession. simply take
this method to pay well merited tribute to
the scientific attachments of this gentleman,
proofs Of which be has kindly oforded me
many opportunities Of witnessing. would
also embrace this opportunity to acknowi-
edge the grateful courtesy which be has exs
tended 20 me upon every occasion Of my
visit to his Office, and to thank him for the
facilities which no has pi I'D at u,y disposal
for acquiring knowledge Of the intricac,es
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