The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1885-09-16
GIVING SIGHT TO THE BLIND.
An Old Woman Whose Lifelong Blind
ness Was Remedied.

A Woman
ness Was Remedied.
Medical JournaLl
At the recent meeting in New London,
Conn. of the American Ophthalmologlcai
society the proceedings of which ara re-
ported in The Medical NewS, DR.. L. Web
ster Fox read clinical paper ON case OF
congenital cataracts successfully removed
in a patient 90 years of age. Omitting the
purely technical portions. DR. Fox's paper
was as follows:
On Feb T. 1884, a negress presented her
self at the eye clinic of the Germantown
hospital, suffering with cataracts. Inc
lenses were opaque, with we'll marked de-
posits of calcareous concretlon', situated IN
tho interior visible portions of the lenses
Upon examination, good projection OF
lipht was obtained. The history elicitei was
that since birth tho vision had not ch ansed,
| simpIy being able to distinguish day from
night or the light of a lamp, or the shadow
! of a dark object when brought directly IN
| front of the patients face. Feeling assured
| of the sensibiIity of the retina, an operation
! for the cataract in one eye was suggested,
| and was performed TIC Ions was success
| fully removed in its capsule with Critch-
| ett's spoon There was small loss OF Vitre-
ous which was fluid. The eye was closed
| Immediately, and the wound healed WITH
out reaction; the eye being bathed daily
with a mild astringent lotion, but the III
| was not disturbed.
| At the end of eight days the bandages
were removed, when it was found that the
wound was closed and a key hole lrldotomy
existed which was perfect in outline ana
showed n clear media. The patent was
astonished; she could see objects several feet
distant, but was quite at loss TO under-
stand the visual phenomena. She was
quite nervous from the effect of the shock,
and started violently and closed her eyes as
4 / FRI faar he
object placed before her. but readily dis
tinguishel it when her hand was placed
upon it. A few moments afterward she
readily distinguished watch which wa
shown her. This was distinguished, not py
its form, but by its ticking. At this time
woods of different colors were placed before
her and a certain one given to be matched
which was done without confusion, proving
accurate sensibility of the retina to the mos
delicate tints although not name wa
known to the patient. After several days th'
' object and wool test was made again Whel
:, | looking at n distance she tried to grasp tn
: objects and flock OF sparrows We're sup
Il noSed to be teacupS- Owing to her hrst I'M
preston of distances, she was Tor quite
time afraid to walk with her eyes open, th
floor appearing at a distance. n red an
black color produced pain IN the eyepaL
while green and white were soothing. Afte
the bandages were removed she was above
e the freedom of a moderately lighted rooi
10 to become accustomed to the objects abor
:; her. as we'll as to learn to measure distance:
she repeatedly refused to walk, although tf
l nurse assured her that no danger would o
L fall her in the effort
TO The patient was soon able to associate u
name of the object, and at the end of son
, weeks, in the meantime using III
n, eve constantly, she was able to me,
Id ton all the objects in the ward OF u
to hospital, but at times would make mistak
Il quite as ludicrous as the birds ana lne 'e
DIX cuns In January of this year the right g.
al. was onerated on; no reaction followed, al
nd She is now able to see perfectly with oo
MT eyes