The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-01-16
RABBITS
EYES FOR
HE|NARD

Washington. Jan. 1s--wilton Heinard
on whose sightless eyes surgeons are try
ing to graft the transparent cornea Of
the eyes OF rabbit. is doomed to long
months OF suspense before he will know
whether or not he is 10 zee again.
Two operations already have been per-
formed by the surgeons of the Episcopal
Eye. Ear and Throat hospital on Helm
ards eyes. the sight OF which was de-
stroyed two years ago by a negro high
wayman. who threw the contents of a
can OF concentrated lye in his face. He
will undergo another operation next We'd
nesday and anot.ler a few weeks later
Heinard's eyes were terribly injured by
the action OF the lye. The lids were
burned away together with the outer
part OF the eye balls. The lids grew 10
the eyeballs and Heinard was unable TO
move either his eyes or the lids. This
caused him excruciating pain.
The first operation performed by the
surgeons was TO remove the con1unctive
membranes from the eyes OF rabbits and
transfer them 10 the lids OF Henard's.
This made a membrane lining fer
the lids OF Heinard's eyes. The rabbit
membranes were sewed under the lids
with web-like suturee, and Heinard was
put in dark room for five weeks.
COULD WINK HIS EYES.
At the expiration OF this time he was
taken TO the hospital and upon examina-
tion il was found that the operation had
been successful in every particular.
Heinard could wink his eyes, and the
movement OF his eye-balls was natural.
Even the surgeons themselves We're sur
.zrt. e, a.. -. n
over the artificial lining 10 the lids
The second operation merely consisted
of trimming up and adjusting the mem
branes to tho lids. The real operation
the one upon which depends Heinard's
hope OF Sights 10 be performed al the
hospital Wednesday. II will consist OF
removing from the eyes of rabbit the
mite OF transparent cornea-hardly one
sixteenth OF an inch square--and its
transpfanting 10 the eyes OF Heinard.
The operation Is admitted by the sur
geons 10 be an experiment, and they say
IL will be the first time in the history OF
surgery that Il has ever been performed.
II is expected that through this little bit
OF cornea Heinard with the aid OF strong
glasses, will be able 10 see. The sur
geons do not expect that he will be able
10 see as well as ever no did. but they do
believe the operation will result in Helm
ard recovering his sight 10 an extent suf-
1cient for him 10 be able 10 get about by
himself and TO transact his business
FIVE MONTHS TO WAIT.
Tho surgeons in discussing the forth
coming operation said IL would be four
or Ave months before it would be definite
ly known whether or not tho operation
was successful.
During all that time Heinard will go
with bandaged eyes and spend his time
in a room TO which no light will be admit
ted. 1t is possible, too. the surgeons say.
that one or two minor operations may
be necessary.
Should they fail in the first attempt 70
graft the cornea OF the rabbit TO Helm
ards eyes they will try a second, as they
have his permission to do with him as
they will
The rabbits which VIII he used in the
operation are kept In a specially pre-
pared warren in the hospital grounds
There are six big fellows there. although
only one may be used
The rabbits are kept at tho hospital un-
der observation in order that the surgeon
may be assured OF healthy specimens.
The rabbit. as we'll az Heinard. will be
under anaesthetics during the operation.
The surgeons who will perform the op-
Grafton chose rabbits because the nor
mai temperature and blood more nearly
resemble those OF the human race than
those OF any other animal.