Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-11-07
OPERATING WITH 4 NEW AN .ESTHE-
TIC.
Removing IA Double Cataract with the Aid
of Iydro-Chlorate of Cocaine.

\ student at the University of IIedcl-
berg, in Germany, while experimenting
recently with cocoa, made Il tinCturc Of
hydrO-ChlOratc of cocaine, which To his
amaZcmcnt and surprise he accidentally
discovered that when applied to the sur
face of the eye would make it nSen-
sible to feeling. Dr. NOycs. Of this city
who was III Heidelberg at the time, heard
of the wonderful discovery, and sent IL
brief account of it and Its OPP
Grafton, to his friends in the medical pro
feSsiOn here, The hydro-chlorate of CO.
coainc is the active principle of cocoa,
and is only made by one firm in Ger
many. 1t cannot be obtained in the drug
stores in this country. An anrSthet.c
that would render Il particular part of
the human body without sensation, and
avoid the necessity of using chloruform
or ether, which affect the whole body,
has long been sought by the medical
profession, and this new discovery will
he 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 anTsthetic has been used in IA few
cases within the past two weeks by one
or two eminent oculists in this city,
The material is costly at present, and as
ii has not been made in this country ii
Will be some time before it will be cheap
enough to be used in ordinary practice,
1t was used on Monday for the first time
ut the Mount Sinai Hospital. \ woman
NIFTY 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, at the end of
a year, the sight was wholly destroyed,
| The right eye became affected i'll slmi-
lar manner, with the same result. Her
eyes being subjected to IA bright light, IAN
internal examination was made, which
revealed the presence of IA hard, mature
cataract in the capsule, or membrane,
covering the lens in each eye. When the
light was before her eyes she could dis
tinguish it from darkness, but 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 retain the liquid in her eye.
The hospital staff and number of ply
sicians were present, The attending ply
stefan had endeaVOred to procure Il small
quantity of the anpsthetic but could not
get it in the city, and used in the oper-
alton some that he had previously OBJ
tanned The eyelids being held wide open
four drops of the liquid were cautiously
dropped upon the surface of the eyes,
1t produced slight anHsthetc effect
upon the external coating. After an in
terval of five minutes four drops more
were applied, which caused the nsensi-
BILE condition to extend deeper, and after
waiting another five minutes four drops
more were used. After the last applica-
ton had done its work the sensations of
the eyes were tested and they were found
to be entirely anHsthetized A pair of
liXation forceps, the application of which
no healthy eye can stand without caus-
ing a visible shrinking, We're then applied
and adjusted without any sensation be
ing felt by the patient. They have ser
rated edges, which being sunk into the
lower part Of the eye, hold it firmly in
position while the operation is being per