The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1885-08-27
Giving Sight to the Blind.

At the recent meeting in New Lon
don, Conn. of the American Ophthal-
mological society, the proceedings OF
which are reported in The Medical
AeIcS, DR.. L. Webster Fox read 4 ciini-
cal paper on 4 case of c0ngenital cat
aracts successfully removed in pa
tient 90 years of age. The perplexity
OF the patient on being brought for the
first time in her life into visual contact
Wit, the world was remarkable, and
altogether the case is one of peculiar
interest. Omitting the purely technical
portions, DIR. Fox's paper was rs fol-
lows:
On Feb. 1, 1881, q negress presented
herself at the eye clinic of the German
town hospital, suffering with cataracts.
The lenses were opaque, with we'll
marked deposits IF caicarcous concre-
tiCns, situated in The anterior or visible
portions of the lenses.
Upon examination, good projection
of light was obtained. The history
elected was that since birth the vision
had not changed, simply being able to
distinguish day from night, or the light
of lamp, or the shadow of dark OBJ
ject when brought directly in front of
the patients face. Feeling assured of
the sensibility of the retina, an opera
ton for the cataract IN one eve was
suggested, and was performed. The
lens was successfully removed in its
capsule with a Critchett' 5 spoon. There
was a small loss of YitreouS, which was
fluid. The eye was closed Immediately,
and the wound healed without reac-
tion; the eve being bathed daily with
a mild aStringent lotion, but the lid
was not disturbed.
At the end of eight days the banda
ges were removed, when it was found
that the wound was closed and key
hole iridotomy, existed which was per-
feet in outline and showed a cellar
media. The patient was astonished;
she could see objects several feet dis
tant, 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 if from fear. She was un-
able to name any object placed before
her, but readily distinguished it when
her hand was placed upon it. A few
moments afterWard she readily distin-
guished watch which was shown TO
her. This was distinguished, not by
its form, but by its ticking At this
time woods of different cOlors were
placed before her. and & certain one
given to be matched, which was done
without confusion, proving accurate
seusibility of the retina to the most
delicate lints, although not a name was
known TO the patient. After several
days the object and wool test was made
again. When looking at a distance
she tried to grasp the objects. and
flock OF sparrows were supposed to be
teacups. Owing to her first impression
OF distances, she was for quite a time
afraid TO walk with her eyes open, the
floor appearing at q distance. A red
and black color produced pain in the
eye-ball, while green and white were
soothing. After the bandages were re-
mound ~i.- - ~llnwpG tina Freedom Of
moderately lighted room to become
accustomed TO the objects about her,
as well as to learn to measure distan-
ces; she repeatedly refused TO walk,
although the nurse assured her that no
danger would Defall her in the effort
The patient was soon able TO asso-
ciate the name with the object, and at
the end of some weeks, in the mean
time using her eye constantly. she was
able to mention all the objects in the
ward Of the hospital, but al times would
make mistakes quite as iudicrous as
the birds and the tcacups. In January
Of this year the right eye was operated
on; no reaction followed, and she is
now able to see perfectly with both
eyes.
Her color fields were accurately
measured at different times, and found
to correspond TO Landolt's measure
ments. The fundus occult presents a
peculiar picture The disks are oval in
shape, while the distribution OF vessels
are few il number, and do not extend
beyond the equator-they run into
capillaricS, and were not recognizable
with the ophthalmoscope. The lenses
were found to be only two-thirds the
size of an ordinary adult lens. Instead
of being convex in shape, they were
found to be almost spheroidal. The pa
tent is now employed as a general SER
want in the hospital.