The Portland daily press., 1884-10-27
Operating With New Anesthetic
Removing n Double Cataract with she
Aid of KEydro-ChIorate of CocOaine.

(N. Y. Iribune)
A student at the University OF Heidelberg,
in Germany, while experimenting recently
with Cocoa, made tincture OF hydro-chlorate
Of cocoaine, which to his amazsment and sur
prise he accidentally discovered that when ap-
piled to the surface OF the eye it would make
it insensible to feeling. Dr. Noyes, of this
city, who was in Heidelberg at the time, heard
Of the wonderful discovery, and sent brief
account Of it, and its operation, to his friends
in the medical profession here. The hydro
chlorate of cocoaine is the active principle of
cocoa, aud is only made by one firm in Germa-
ny. 1t cannot be obtained in the drug stores
in this country. An anasthetic that would
render a particular part OF the human body
without sensation, and avoid the necessity OF
ueing chloroform or ether, which affect tho
whole body, has long been sought by the med
cal profession, and this new discovery will be
thoroughly tested and experimental with, in
the hope that it may be found TO have An effect
upon other portions of the body than the eye.
This snBsthetic has been used in few cases
within the past two weeks by one or two emin-
ent oculists In this city. The material is cost
ly at present, and as 1t has not been made in
this country, it will be some time before it will
be cheap enough to be used in ordinary prac-
It the Mount Sinai Hospital. A woman fifty
years Of age was admitted to the hospital last
week, who was totally blind About two years
ago she noticed slight cloudliuess at times in
the left eye, which gradually increased until,
At the end Of year, the sight was wholly de-
stroyed. The right eye became affected in o
slnllar manner. with the same result. Her
eyes being subjected to a bright light, an in
ternal examination was made, which revealed
the presence of hard mature cataract in the
eanaulp TnamhFana nuvarinu fha In
each eye. When the light was before her eyes
she could distinguish it from darkness, bat
could not see any surrounding objects
On Monday afternoon the woman was taken
to the operating room and laid fiat upon her
back upon the operating table, in order to re-
lain the liquid in her eye. The hospital staff
and number OF physicians were present. The
attending physician had endeavored TO pro-
cure small quantity of the aB@sthetic but
could not get it In the city, and used in the
operation some that he had previously OBJ.
tsined. 1t is coloriess fluid, without taste or
odor. The eyelds being held wide open four
drops of the liquid were cautiously dropped
upon the surfacs OF the eyes, 1t produced q
slight aDesthetic effect upon the external
coating. After an interval of Ave minutes
four drops more were applied, which caused
the insensible condition to extend deeper, and
after waiting another five minutes four drops
more used. After the last application had
done It's work the sensation of the eyes were
tested and they were found to be entirely
esthetized A pair of fixation forceps, the
application of which no healthy eye can
stand without causing visible shrinking,
were then applied and adjusted without any
sensation being felt by the patient. They have
serrated edges, which being sunk into the
lower psrt of the eye, hold it firmly in posi-
tion while the operation is being performed.
A knife with marrow and extremely thin
blade was then introduced into the corner just
beyond the outer edge of the iris, and careful
y forced throueh the outer coating of the eye
until the point OF the blade came out on the
other side of the iris.
Then the blade was carefully drawn back
ward and upward, precanti N being taken not
to cut the lens or iDjure any of the delicate
parts Of the eye in the neighborhood, and an
incision made about q half inch IN length in
the cornea The flap thus cut was then drawn
down and the lens with the cataract in full
view upon it was exposed. The iris had pro-
lapsed and was cut of at once. An instru-
ment resembling a small steel spoon was then
introduced into the eye and the lens was ex-
tracted in its capsule without being lacerated.
This completed the operation for one eye, and
tue 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 minntea The new aDBsthetic
had done its work beautifully. After tho
operation the flaps of the cOrnea were placed
10 proper position aud the pat lent was asked to
count the number OF fingers held before her
eyes, which she did correctly though with
some hesitation, in consequence of the power
of accommodation being lost By the removal Of
the lens from Doth eyes.
The eyes were then bathed in q solution OF
voracic acid; cotton discs were applied to them
and bandaged tightly. The woman was then
led to her ward. Her eyes will be examined
today and If everything works we'll until Sat-
urday they will be fitted with glasses which,
hereafter, will take the place Of the lenses
that we're removed al d the patient will be dis
charged. Powerful as the effsos of this eneos-
thethc on the eye it does not harm the skin in
the least, its action being CO. fined to the end
bulbes OF the nerves in the eye. The effect in
the healthy eye lasts from nine to City minutes
and has not tue slightest effect upon the sight.