The Portland daily press., 1892-12-24

w. L. w. 4 GU.
10th century to develope the large major
| ty of those in existence and to be hon
| ored by the first one devoted to treat
ment of diseases of the eye.
| The first impulse which gave rise to
| these institutions came from Austria,
which has the honor of having made the
| first attempt to rescue Opthalmology
| from its uncultivated condition, when
| in 1773 she opened the first sahool of in
struction and devoted two wards Of the
| Vienna Hospital to the treatment OF dis
eases of the eye. It was at this institu-
| ton that the eye was first studied with
| an effort to treat its diseases upon scien-
| tific principles by men whose knowledge
| embraced all the ARRANGEMENTS known
| in medicine at that time. 1t was there
that the light of science first broke in
upon the universal ignorance OF affec-
tons of the eye, an ignorance co-existent
with the human race, for the Romans
received their knowledge of diseases of
| the eve from the Greeks, and the
| Greeks obtained theirs from the Egyp-
tians, neither making material aequisi-
| tons to it. Their practice came down
all through the dark ages, much as it
was received from the Egyptians, and as
| it is practiced by the natives OF that
| country today.
The peaceful pursuits of science are
always disturbed by war and the uniyer'
| sal conflict in which the nations of Eu-
Napoleon, retarded the progress of
ophthalmology for another generation,
| but its union with medicine and it's ele-
walton to the rank Of a science, was des-
| tined to bring forth good fruit. We find
| the next steptaken in it's stage of progress
| by England, when DIR. Saunders found
| ed the Royal London Ophthalmic Hospi-
tai in 1904. America had the honor of
| following close upon the lead of the
| mother country, when Drs. Rogers and
Delaheld founded the New York Eye and
| Ear Infirmary in 1921, and Drs. Reynolds
and Jeffried founded the Massachusetts,
Charitable Eye and Ear Infirmary in
| 1924. At first the two American institu-
tions were wholly devoted to the treat
ment of the eye, as the Royal London
Ophthalmic Hospital began. and still
continues to be, but as SO much relief
was given in the treatment of affections
of the eve, those Of the ear, which had
been badly neglected, claimed atten-
ton, and various reasons ophthalmo-
logy and otoly have been associated to-
gether ever since.
After another charming selection by
the Haydn Quartette Mr.. harrington
called upon
His Honor Mayor Ingraham,
who referred to the progress of similar
institutions since the Crimean war and
the work of Florence Nightingale. He
had listened with surprise to the facts as
given by DR.. Holt in illustration of the
immense benefit of this and other insti-
tutions. We can feel that we are along
side of Boston, New York and London in
furthering the progress of opthalmic
learning and scientific treatment
DR.. Weeks was called upon and said
that the occasion reminded him of the
great changes in the state during the
past generation in the matter of charit-
able institutions. He reviewed at some
length the growth in that direction Gull
minating in the present magnificent in
titution.
DR.. Gordon was very emphatic in re-
plying to the criticisms of the building
and it's uses and said that if it was pri-
yate institution because of the private
enterprise of DIR. Holt then we can't
have too many such sprivate institu-
TONS" He added that he and others
had furnished rooms in the building
where they brought private patients, but
which were open to any physician IN the
city for such purposes; that the money
paid for those rooms goes for the man.
age ment of the Infrmary and that it is
ali in tended for the benefit of the insti-
tuition.
Other speakers were Doctors Pendle-
Little, esq, DR.. Dudley of New
York, formerly of this city, DR.. Dalton
and Hon. Chas. F. Libby.
DR.. Holt read letters of regret from
Governor Burleigh, Governor-elect
Cleaves, DIR. Fuller of Bath and DR.. Hill
of Lewiston.
The visiting physicians from out of
town were DIR. Z. ]. Bossford of Saco,
DR.. Davis of Biddeford and DR.. Leo
Libby of Togus.
After another selection by the quar-
tette, Rev. DR.. Blanchard pronounced
the benediction.
The infirmary has been in use for
about two weeks. Everything has
proved to be in good running order, es-
pecially the hot water heating apparatus,
the largest in the state. There are now
Is patients in the building and an aver
age of 20 is attending the daily clinic.
Two cataracts and one eyes have been
removed.
Milliken-T omIinson Company are the sole