The New York herald., 1921-07-25
BROOKLYN PHYSICIAN
DISCOVERS CURE FOR
| CASES OF BLINDNESS
Successfully Uses Serum on
Patients Suffering From
Atrophy.
TO DISCLOSE FORMULA
DIR. Pond to Reveal Extent
Of His Work to Medical
Association.
NOURIsHES OPTIC NERVE
Preparation to Be Used in
Cases Where Eyesight Is
Not All Gone.
NOURIsHEs OPTIC NERVE


cal discoveries in history soon will be
placed before the Academy of Medicine
and the American Medical Association.
A serum to restore the sight in cases
of blindness caused by atrophy of the
optic nerve. heretofore regarded as an
incurable condition. has been devel-
oped by DR.. Erasmus Arlington Pond,
Of 1893 Dean street, Brooklyn, an eye
specialist of unquest.oned standing in
his profession.
knowledge of DR.. Ponds discovery
leaked out against his wishes, as it
was his desire to prevent all public
discussion Of his work until he had
made formal report upon it to the
medical bodies of which he is a mem
Der, in accordance with the ethical
standards of medical practice
There are said to be just two limita-
tions upon the effectiveness of the Sc
rum. In the first place. it will not
change a condition OF total blindness.
Just SO long as the patient Is able to dis
Germ, no matter how dimly. the passing
Of hand few inches before his face,
even though it appears to him little more
than a shadow, there is time for the
injection OF the serum. When total
no effect
Cure for Atrophy Only.
The second limitation is that the Sc
rum cannot be used In cases of blindness
caused by accident, in which hemor-
rhage has resulted. 1t is said to have
worked successfully only in cases caused
by atrophy, which is the cause OF prac-
tically all blindness not due to accident.
Nine cases of this kind have been sue
cessfully treated by Or. Pond. it was
said.
No applications for treatment will be
considered until the fall. when Or. Pond
will disclose the formuls Of his prepara-
ton, which is at present known only to
himself and to one or two associates.
When he makes his report he will make
known the composition Of the serum. so
that 1t may be used by all eye practi-
TONERS.
DR.. Pond refused Yesterday to discuss
his discovery until he has made his pro-
fessional report. His wife. however. ad-
mitted that he had found such serum.
stating that he had been at work upon
II for several years. and now is busy
completing his presentation Of the treat
ment and the records of the cases under
taken by him.
Cured Serious Cases.
The cures which DR.. Pond is known
TO have effected were made in cases
which were declared hopeless by eye
specialists in several hospitals. From
three TO six months was required in each
case for the restoration of normal sight.
Nourishment OF the optic nerve grad
ually restored il to health. injection or
the serum being made through the eye
ball.
The discovery Is said TO have been
hit upon accidentally eight years ago.
while DIR. Pond was experimenting with
a preparation he was using for the treat
ment of cataracts. He became aware
that through hypodermic injections In
the eyeball the serum could be made TO
strengthen the blood that supplies the
optic nerve with vitality. Various
changes were made in Ii. all OF an ex-
detrimental nature. but nobody was In
formed of what DR.. Pond was working
on until two years ago. when the ann OF
his labors became generally known IN
the medical profession. and the nature
of the serum disclosed to ore or TWO
close associates. Although the an
nouncement was met with general scep-
ticism, several physicians sent patients
to DR.. Pond.
Some of these were beyond his power
IN holm them before they reached him.
In Some cases the optic nerve had COM
pletely atrophied, in others IT had been
torr away. The remainder he could
work upon and did.
Dr pond Is n graduate of the Univer-
sity OF Vermont and studied medicine AT
bellevue. He has been for some years
surgeon on the staff OF the Manhattan
Eve. Ear and Throat Hospital. ana an
instructor at the Post-Graduate Medical
School and Hospital IN Manhat'am, "e
was graduated from Bellevue In 1871.
Cure sought for Years.
Eve spec,alists in this city who could
he reached last night said they were
waiting with keen interest Dr. Ponds
report. As they are not acquainted with
the nature OF his treatment, other than
its form as a serum, they couiu not oner
anv opinions as TO Its efficacy. They
said however. that such cure, was
wholly within the bounds of scientific
possibility. and that a remedy for the
falling optic nerve had been leading
aim az medical research for many years
DR. James ". ingalls, Of Brooklyn
saId: .'The discovery Is an amazing
one. and IL DIR. Pond says that he has
obtained these results when he submits
his report there Is no question that his
claims will be accepted. because he Is
n man OF undoubtedly high standing in
the profession. I am waiting for his
report with great eagerness, and / hopc
that his treatment is all that we under
stand IL TO be-
DR.. Armin Nettle OF "a East Thirty
eighth street. who has been on the STAFF
of the Manhattan Eye. Ear and Thr oat
Hospital for twenty years. said The
treatment, IL established. would be one
Of the greatest boons medicine has ever
given to mankind He estimated that
about 30 per cent Of all blindness Is due
TO atrophy OF the optic nerve. the re-
nnaislng cases being scattered among a
wide variety Of causes.