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Artificial Eyes Vs. Patriotism
EDITORIALS
largely passed, there will come under observation a greater number of cases, in which the ocular condition must be regarded as a sequel to the influenza. During the prevalence of the disease the danger of infection of operative wounds should be borne in mind, and operations should be deferred, if this is possible without serious disadvantage to the patient. E. J. ARTIFICIAL EYES VS. PATRIOTISM. A short time ago a number of ophthalmologists in this country received letters from a manufacturer of artificial eyes; requesting that they use their influence at Washington to induce the Government to allow this manufacturer certain special importation privileges with Germany, to enable him to manufacture the same quality of eyes he had previously been in the habit of making. The manufacturer in question received several communications from ophthalmologists of this country indignantly protesting against such a petition. He probably appreciates by this time, that the loyal physicians of this country are in no mood to have anything to do with the Central Germanic Powers, except to defeat them unconditionally; and then to endeavor to assist them in becoming decent citizens of a decent world. The Germans are undoubtedly an intellectual and scientific race of people. They have devised many things from which they have acquired a practically exclusive trade. Medical men have depended upon Germany for certain
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drugs, dyes, appliances, etc. Inasmuch as such articles could be purchased from Germany and were of superior quality and cheap, Americans have purchased them and have used them with satisfaction. But there is really no reason why all these things cannot be produced at home, and as a matter of fact they will be produced at home, and all we need to do is to realize that they must be manufactured in this country; and before long this object will be attained. It is up to us, therefore, to learn to be independent and to make what we need here in the United States and then to protect our own industries. Let all chemical and other manufacturers, therefore, realize that they are facing this problem and must conquer it. Until this condition of affairs is reached, however, let us cheerfully go without those articles we have previously imported from Germany, but which we have not yet learned how to produce. It is not profitable at this time to indulge in expressions concerning the Central Powers of Europe. Paper is too expensive, and we must learn to conserve our nervous and mental energies. It is desirable, however, to urge ophthalmologists to emphatically decline the subtle and dangerous invitation of the before mentioned manufacturer of artificial eyes, to plead for special privileges of German importations; and to patriotically abstain in the future from depending upon new German made goods, until such time as Germany has become a decent neighbor with whom to live, and do business, and it is an easy guess that this will not be for many, many years. F. A.
BOOK NOTICES HYGIENE OF T H E EYE. By William Campbell Posey, A. B., M. D., Professor of Diseases of the Eye in the Philadelphia Polyclinic. 8vo., 354 pages, 120 illustrations. Philadelphia and London, J. B. Lippincott Co. Price $4.00 net.
The ophthalmologist will feel the greatest interest in this work on account of the four chapters that have been contributed to it by scientific specialists who are not ophthalmologists. The first of these, Chapter V I I on "Artificial Lighting," is written by the illu-
largely passed, there will come under observation a greater number of cases, in which the ocular condition must be regarded as a sequel to the influenza. During the prevalence of the disease the danger of infection of operative wounds should be borne in mind, and operations should be deferred, if this is possible without serious disadvantage to the patient. E. J. ARTIFICIAL EYES VS. PATRIOTISM. A short time ago a number of ophthalmologists in this country received letters from a manufacturer of artificial eyes; requesting that they use their influence at Washington to induce the Government to allow this manufacturer certain special importation privileges with Germany, to enable him to manufacture the same quality of eyes he had previously been in the habit of making. The manufacturer in question received several communications from ophthalmologists of this country indignantly protesting against such a petition. He probably appreciates by this time, that the loyal physicians of this country are in no mood to have anything to do with the Central Germanic Powers, except to defeat them unconditionally; and then to endeavor to assist them in becoming decent citizens of a decent world. The Germans are undoubtedly an intellectual and scientific race of people. They have devised many things from which they have acquired a practically exclusive trade. Medical men have depended upon Germany for certain
803
drugs, dyes, appliances, etc. Inasmuch as such articles could be purchased from Germany and were of superior quality and cheap, Americans have purchased them and have used them with satisfaction. But there is really no reason why all these things cannot be produced at home, and as a matter of fact they will be produced at home, and all we need to do is to realize that they must be manufactured in this country; and before long this object will be attained. It is up to us, therefore, to learn to be independent and to make what we need here in the United States and then to protect our own industries. Let all chemical and other manufacturers, therefore, realize that they are facing this problem and must conquer it. Until this condition of affairs is reached, however, let us cheerfully go without those articles we have previously imported from Germany, but which we have not yet learned how to produce. It is not profitable at this time to indulge in expressions concerning the Central Powers of Europe. Paper is too expensive, and we must learn to conserve our nervous and mental energies. It is desirable, however, to urge ophthalmologists to emphatically decline the subtle and dangerous invitation of the before mentioned manufacturer of artificial eyes, to plead for special privileges of German importations; and to patriotically abstain in the future from depending upon new German made goods, until such time as Germany has become a decent neighbor with whom to live, and do business, and it is an easy guess that this will not be for many, many years. F. A.
BOOK NOTICES HYGIENE OF T H E EYE. By William Campbell Posey, A. B., M. D., Professor of Diseases of the Eye in the Philadelphia Polyclinic. 8vo., 354 pages, 120 illustrations. Philadelphia and London, J. B. Lippincott Co. Price $4.00 net.
The ophthalmologist will feel the greatest interest in this work on account of the four chapters that have been contributed to it by scientific specialists who are not ophthalmologists. The first of these, Chapter V I I on "Artificial Lighting," is written by the illu-