The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-10-16
RESTORED TO SIGHT.
AN INTERESTING OPERATION
BY Which m EtnRyIlls Man Is Relieved of
the Effects Of an Ipiury to One Of His
Eyes Received In Wales Years
AEo-A Credit to Wheeling,

An lNTELLIGEScER reporter recently
learned Of q rare case Of restoration to
sight which occurred In this city, and
which reflects great credit on the scien-
tlac requirements and surgical skill Of q
Wheeling professional gentleman. Be-
lisying that the narrative OF the case in
detail would interest the general public,
aud perhaps result in benefit to others
who are similarly afflicted, Gome inquiries
were made, which developed the facts
given below, The story is not only inter,
esting, but strictly true, and II any person
feels an interest in II and dssires to inyes.
tigats further, Mr.. Totterdale can be seen
at any time at his work, and will no doubt
be glad to subsEantlate every statement
made,
Lewis Totterdals Is an iron worker, and
q native Of Wales, He is now employed
as q boiler at the Rsna Sheet Iron
Mill, over the river. In the month Of
March, 1873, while at work In an iron
mill In the town oil Briton Ferry, South
Wales, he was severely burned by q fash
Of iron from hot mass Of the metal
which was being shaped by q steam ham
mer, The molten metal burned his left
eye SO severely that the ball was pene-
trated and the iris wounded, and the lids
were burned to such an extent that when
they began TO heal they grew together at
the edges and also adhered to the eye ball
over Its entire surface.
Since the accident this eye has been
useless, and Mr., Totterdale was practi,
cally blind, seeing barely well enough To
continue his work.
About q month alter the accident, Tot.
terdAle went to Bristol, and was operated
upon BY q competent specialist, one Of the
stat Of the Royal Eye Iuhrmary Id that
city, From this operation he received
practically no benefit, and he concluded
that II was no use to attempt to restore
his sight.
To-day, however, thirteen years and
more after his serious accident occurred
Mr.. TotteIdale can use both eyes almost
as well as ever, For this happy
relief he is indebted to Dr.. s. M
SloCum, the well known oCulist and
aurlst Of this city, at whose Eye and Ear
Intrmary, at No, 60 Sixteenth street, the
operation was performed which restored
the man to sight, Few Cities Of the size
Of Wheeling can boast Of such an institu,
ton Gs DR., SloCum's in6rmary; indeed
few cities Of any size can excel 1t except
In size. lts completeness in all the re,
qulsities for the treatment OF every de,
scrlption Of affections Of the eye and cal
strikes the visitor at once, and DR.. Glocum
has fairly won high reputation by cue
ceesiul treatment Of stubborn diseases AMI
Injuries In his special line. In no case
however, has he achieved result more
GreditsbIe to himself 'N'O or moore moore
interesting to the public, than the one
Just referred to, by which Mr.. Totterdale'f
injured eye was restored TO It's norma
condition Of health and usefulness.
The injured lids were first separated
and the two lids then cut loose from the
ball. This delicate and difficult operation
was, however, only preparatory work
The eye wSs still useless. To restore II tc
sight, the operation known 10 surgery o.
"irideotomy" was necessary. This opsr.
alton consists In creating by artificial
means q new pupil, and was the method
attempted at the Bristol institution,
where, however, 1t did not succeed, An
incislon was frat made, by which
access to the ball was secured
The iris was then Hrabpad with
Q fine instrument, pulled out, aud cut.
Tkia orels a new pupil, aud the eye grad.
ually assumes Ito original functions.
Eventually Mr.. Totterdalo will see as
well as ever. At fret the eyelids are Of
course more or less inaamed from tho
operation, aud the new pupil over.sensi.
tive from having been 20 long efIectually
yelled from the light. Gradually however,
these difficulties will disappear, and Mr.
Totterdale will see as we'll as before Nh
accident In 1873. Shortly after the opera.
ton he found himself able to read dls,
mond print q foot distant from his eve
an admitted test ofths normal condition
Of his sighk
Wheeling can point with pride to Q
specialist who aocomplishes such results
pr. SloCum 10 an educated physicinn
whose work speaks for itself. This 10 but
one case, though conspicuous one, where
his Ikill has been successful. PersonI
having weak or detective sight or hearing
should coppult him,
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