Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1883-09-13
A DELICATE OPERATI0J.
Transplsnting Membrane from the Eye Of
aRabbit TO Restore Sight to the Blind.

A delicate operation was recentlyper-
formed on the eye of David Wicker
sham, of Middleton, o., on which cor
respondent of the Cleveland Herald
writes: Mr.. Wickersham, the patient,
has been blind for the past three or four
years, and sufferer for many years
with granular eyelids, which slowly, by
contraction of the conjunctiva, caused
the lids to become grown fast to the
eye-balls, or what is called in medical
terms '.anchytoblepharon." The re-
naming conjunctiva became abnormal
ly dry, and in time was converted into
true integument, or skin, being Opaque,
thereby producing blindness. The OPP
Grafton consisted in Sitting the neoplas-
tic membrane, or skin, from outer to in
ner cantaus, or corner of the eye, and
shaving it carefully from off corner and
eyeball, when conjunctiva of live
rabbit was transplanted to the eye of
the patjeE: for the purpose of convert
ing the globe and lining the upper and
lower lids. Readers can imagine the
delicacy of such an operation; first the
caution and delicacy required to slit this
skin across the ebalf and dissect it
from the ball. thus freeing the lids that
had grown fast; the constant effort re-
ouired to remove the food that contin-
ually oozes from the numerous small
vessels, that the doctor might see well
where his keen edge touched, lest by
the VARYING of hairs breath the chances
of success be gone. Then the prep
aration of the conjunctiva of the rabbit,
which, to do properly and skillfullY, is
rs fine an operation rs c2uld fall to the
province of asurgeon. The riembrane,
as delicate and thin as the finest tissue
paper, was carefully removed without
cut or tear from the lids and eye of the
animal, and placed in the same relative
position on the eye of the patient. To
do this the doctor commenced by max
ing an incision along the edge of the
upper lid. then carefully removing this
from the lid and upper part of the ball.
Numerous threads of fine silk with a
needle on each end were then passed
through the outer edge of the mem-
brane, to be afterward- used to retain it
in place when removed to the patient S
eve Then, commencing on the edge of
the lower lid, the conjunctiva is remov-
ed in the same manner from lower lid
and corresponding portion of the eye
ball and the whole conjunctival mem-
brane, except that covering the cornia
or clear part of the rabbits eye. This,
when spread out by means of the num-
erous threads inserted into the edge,
was sufficient to cover the eyeball and
lids of the patient, and yet SO delicate
that were the silken cords not in prop
er position to handle it. it would con-
tract itself into little bunch smaller
than grain of wheat. The coniuncti-
va, being perfectly cleansed by q little
warm water that the vitality be not de-
stroyed, was quickly placed in proper
position, and then it could be seen how
suture with needle on either end
could be used. The edges that were
removed from the edge OF the lids on
the rabbits eye were drawn under the
lids. The needles were drawn through
the lids at the highest point that had
been denuded; then the same with the
lower lid. This being done, the men,
brane was drawn evenly over the whole
surface by drawing each thread to its
proper place, and the ends of each SUI
ture tied. This finished the operation
and in the course of few weeks when
theinfammation following such violence
to the delicate organ has subsided, the
healing process completed, then the
lids, once bound down with fold of flesh,
will glide smoothly over the CLASSY
ball, the once Opaque cornia will trans
nit light, and the man so long shrouded
in darkness will look forth on Gods
beautiful earth with a delight known to
only him who once was blind and nov
sees.