Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-07-29

pieces of thread which had been attach
ed to the recti muscles and conjunctiva
were then picked up and the coniunctival
sac was drawn over the eyeban. Eight
stitches of black silk were used to unite
the recti muscles and the conjunctiva
after the edges had been fitted together
and the strange eye was then an occupant
of strange place. To keep the trans
planted eye fixed, two silk sutures were
passed through the eyelids, which were
gently drawn together. After the eye
ball had been washed out an antesptic
solution of the bichloride of mercury.
compress of borated cotton was applied
to the eyes, which was coyere with a
flannel bandage. Over all was placed
channels mask adapted to the head. The
unoperated eye was not covered. The
bandage was left on week before re-
moyal, and the parts were unusually free
from suppuration.
As matter of EXPERIMENTATION seven
cases out of the twenty -five were left I'M
bandaged, and sloughing of the comea
quickly followed. In seven other cases
the animals who kept up a constant en-
deavor to tear off the bandages, succeeded
in displacing them so as to prevent the
proper healing of the eyes. In four of
the cases the bandage had been applied
too tightly and interfered with the motion
of the jaw. This set up an inflammation
which caused the eyes to slough. In the
remaining six case where the bandages
were held in position by the channels Gov
ering, the operation was entirely success
full, and the transplanted eyes have per
fectly natural appearance. 1t was consid-
fn lISh fhnr 81 10
kept from atmospheric contact as in
every case where it was exposed particles
of matter floating in the air lodged on
the surface of the eye, and as there were
no tears or movement of the lid to get rid
of them they set up an irritation and in
hamatiOn which resulted in the speedy de-
generation of the comea. The union of
the muscles was observed to have taken
place as early as the third day after the
operation, though usually it took seven.
The optic nerve was perfectly united and
the flow of blood was regularly established
in ten days. After the muscles had joined
there was an associated movement of the
eyes, and an object meved in front of the
unoperated eye was followed by concen
trated movement of them both. There
was only one thing lacking there was no
oASho III UAo 1IduS plduIeu eye. Ln0 ceIlud6
in every instance had degenerated and no
nervous elements passed between the eye
and the brain. Whether this defect can
be overcome is doubtful, but it is among
the possibilities of the surgery of the fut-
ure. Will the time come when the blind
can be made to see by giving them new
pair of eyes? Every effort is being made
to determine this question.
1t is hardly possible that any person
will be willing to give up good eye to be
transplanted in the socket of some other
poor fellow who has an unsightly one, and
they will have to be taken from animals.
A rabbits eye is much smaller then hu-
man eye, and can not be used for this
purpose. DR.. May, however, believes that
rabbits eyes can be increased by system
of breeding, and is now trying the expert
ment in laboratory in his house, where all
his work has been done. He thinks that
they will be large enough to use in the hu-
man subject. The optic nerve and mus
cular attachments are all similar, the col
or the same the size is the only trouble.
When the right lied eye has been OBJ
tanned the work of experimentation will
be transferred to the human being, and
there is every promise of success"