Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-10-25
a NEW AslEyTagrlc.
Removing Double Cataract with the Ala Of
Hvdro-ChIorste Of Cocsnine.

NEW Iffs lFtDune.I
| A student Mt the University OF Heidel-
Dere, IN Germany. while experimenting
recently with cocoa, made q tincture OF
h5dro -chloratc Of cocoaine, which. to his
.inssement and surprise. he accidentally
discovered that when applied to the sur
lace OF The eye would make II insensibIe b
feeling. DR.. Moves, OF this city, who was
IN heidelberg at the time, heard OF the
wonderful discovery. and sent brief ac-
cc,nt OF 1t and its operation TO bis friends
~ the medical profession here. The hydro
eIorate OF cocoaine Is the active principle
o. cocos, and is only made by one firm In
Germany. IL cannot be obtained in the
ufugstores IN this country. An anasthetic
.oAt would render particular part OF the
nuibsn cody without sensation, and avoid
me necessity 81 using cioroform or ether,
"h'cb Affect the whole body, has long been
sought by the medical profession. and this
new discovery will be thoroughly tested
and expermenied with, in the hope that it
may re found to have an effect upon other
porlloEs OF the body than the ey,.
ms an9sthetic has been used in n few
cases within the past two weeks bv one or
TWO eminent oculists in this city. The ms
tf'ai Is costly ut present, and rs IL has no,
Ieeh Inade in this country. IL will be some
time before it will be cheap enough 10 be
used in ordinary practice. Il was used on
Monday for the first time at the Mount
sfnm Hospital. 4 woman tfty years OF
age was admitted TO the hospital last
week WHO was totally blind. About
TWO years ago she noticed slight
cloudiness at times In the left eye. /
which gradually increased until ut the end I
OF year the sight was wholly DESTROYED,
Il off oil a..
manner, with the same result. Her eve,
being subjected TO bright light, an inter.
nal examination was made which revealed
the presence OF hard. mature cataract in
The capsule. or membrance covering the
lens IN each eye. When the light was be-
lore Der Eyes she could distinguish It from
darkness, but could not see any surround.
ing objects.
On Monday afternoon the woman was
taken TO the operaiinG-room and laid flat
upon her back upon the opcrating.tlble,
in order 10 retain the liquid in her eye.
The hospital staff and a number Of physl-
cisns we've Present. The attending physi-
clan had cndeavored to procure small
quantity OF the new snGsthefIc, but could
not get 1t in the city, and used in the opera
ton some that he had previously obtained.
IL IL cclorless fluid, without taste or odor.
The eyelids being held wide open, four
drops Of the liquid were cautiously dropped
upon the surface Of the eyes. II produced
slight anasthetic effect upon the external
coating. After an interval OF five minutes
four drops more were applied, which
caused the insensible condition to extend
deeper, and after waiting another five min
Utcs four drops more were used. After
the last application had done its work the
sensation Of tie eyes were tested, and they
were found to be entirely anGsthetized. A
rair OF fixation forceps, the application OF
which no healthy eye can stand with
out causing a visible shrinking, were then
applied and adjusted without any sensa.
ton being felt by the patient. They have
seTrsted edges. which beng sunk into the
lower part Of the eye, hold il firmly in
position while the operation il being per-
formed. A knife with a narrow and ex-
tremely thin blade was then introduced
into the corner just beyond the outer edge
Of the his, aud carefully forced through
the outer coating Of the eye until the point
Of the blade came out on the other side OF
TIE iris.
Then the blade Nas carefully drawn
backward and upward, great precaution
being taken not to cut the lens or injure
any OF the delicate parts Of the eye in the
neighborhood, and an incsion made about
q half inch in length in the cornea. The
fat thus cut was then drawn down and the
lens with the cataract in full view upon IL
was exposed. This iris had prolapsed and
was cut Off It once. An instrument resem-
bling a email steel spoon was then intro
duced into the eve and the lens was cx-
tracted in its capsule without being acera-
ted. This completed the operation for one
eye, and the other was then operated
upon IN the same manner. The operation |
upon both eyes was performed successfully |
without the patient feeling the slightest |
sensation, and lasted about twenty minutes.
The new anasthotlc had done lis work |
beautifully. After the operation the flaps |
OF the cornea were placed in proper posi- |
ton, and the patient was asked TO count |
the number OF fingers held before her eyes,
which she did correctly though with some
bsslitation, in consequence OF the power OF
accommodation being lost by the removal
OF the lens from both eyes.
The eyes were then bathed in a solution
Of voracic acid cotton discs were applied
10 them and bandaged tightly. The woman
was then led TO her ward. Her eyes will |
be examined to-day, and il everything
works well until Saturday they will be |
fitted with glasses. which, hereafter, will |
take the place OF the lenses that were re-
moved, and the patient will be discharged. |
Powerful as is the effect OF this anesthetic |
on the eve, it does not harm the skin in the |
least, its action being confined to the end |
bulbes OF the nerves In the eye. The effect |
in the healthy eve lasts from nine TO fifty
minutes. and bias not the slightest effect |
upon the sight.