Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1884-03-04
THE FRIEND OF SUFFERING
HUMANITY.
Dr.. A. B. Barker ooulist and Au-
rist Who and What He Is.

| oNoi'S WIN 'iN iupll Slllucb III tFCIl
profession of the present age, the
question is often asked who and what
Is this man and especially so, when
the man of whom these questions are
asked, comes directly in our midst,
and offers to perform what some
might call miracles.
This question has been asked by a
few of the citizens of Nashville in re-
ference to the gentleman whose name
heads this article. and as it has been
ofthe fortune Worl reporter to have
not only. meet DIR. Barker and hear
him discuss his method of treatment
in his specialties, but TO have seen
him in the performance Of some Of
the most difficult operations, he feels
II but due the Doctor to give a brief
outline of who and what he is,and,
IL fspace will permit to give to the
public some of the Doctors views
upon the treatment of the eye. While
to few the Doctor Is yet unknown
still his fame rs one OF the most cele-
bratcd of his profession is rapidly
becoming known over the entire
globe, and the praises of many patient
are just and meriicd tribute to q
man who in truth is a friend of suf-
fering humanity.
From the New York Mercantile
Review of Dec. III, $50, we extract
the following brief biography of this
gentleman ale was native of Rus.
sia. but was educated in England
aud Prussia. Besides being a regu-
lar graduate of medicine and surgery
he has spared no time or expense Ia
stand at the head of the profession.
lie attended the best Ophtalmic hos
pitals in Europe and America, re.
ceiying not only the instruction of the
most,emincnt oculist aud aurists of the
Continents, but an extensive hospita,
practice in extracting ami replacing
eyes AMI treating of all diseases, in.
jurics. malformations and deformi-
ties of the eye, ear, nose and throat
in the varied forms or conditions.
lie then, at great expense, purchased
a complete set of instruments in Paris
to commence Hospital in America
Arrived In the States in 1868, he
found people generally of the
belief that the general prac-
titioncr could cure all diseases
equally well, aud ignorant Of
the advantages ofspecial treatment,
especially that Of the eye. At first
II was hard work to combat this, as
ne could not circulate his views in an
impressive way. He settled in Gin
cinnati accomplishing wonderful
cures in diseases of the eye and ear.
lie also attended the College of Ply
sicians and Surgeons in that city for
two years. In 1875 he was induced
by the Legislature of Kentucky TO
open State Infirmary for the eye
and ear at Frankfort. Visiting Lex
ington a year after, he was struck
with its beauty and healthfulness
along with the hospitality of its citi-
zens, and he determind to settle in it
for private practice, his health hav-
ing become such as to require him to
relinquish hospital duties. At
Frankfort AMI Lexington he has had
a most successful career lie has
cured over 5000 cases ofdisuase of the
eye, ear nose and throat. His treat
ment of cataract and cross eyes is
remarkable. His operations in cross
eyes is as simple as wonderful. 1t is
performed before the patient is aware.
Since 1868 he has performed 1886
cures. lie is emphatic in indors-
ing the statements of ophthalmic
institutes throughout the world,
that parents and guardians
should have children afflicted
with cross-eyes cured as soon
as possible, as the eye affected is not
only blind and deformity affecting
the expression, but is likely, sooner
or later, from sympathy to cause
blindness to the other eye Also"
Thus il win be seen from the brief
extract that as far back as 1880 the
reputation of DR.. Barker had become
almost world wide, and so numerous
were the calls upon him that he found
1t necessary to move to broader field
of labor and consequently settled
in Cincinnati, in the year 1881.
No better tribute of his standing
as gentleman and surgeon could
be paid any man, than was the
complimentary petition signed by
the leading citizens of Lexington,
asking himto abandon the idea (, +
moving to Cincinnati and to remain
with them. To talk with the doc
tor fora few minutes, is in fact a
treat and no one can hear or watch
his treatment without being thor
oughly impressed with the idea that
he not only understands his work
perfectly, but that his knowledge of
the different branches of which he is
master, is so far above the general
run of ofopticians as to convince you
of his wonderful power in his spe :
cial branches.
DR.. B. is a Russian by birth-7a
man who, while. heis F years of ago,
is SO wonderfully sArcservcd, thatto a
stranger he wpul spass for one