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A Good, A Very Good Man
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY Published
Monthly
by the Ophthalmic
Publishing
Company
EDITORIAL STAFF S. RODMAN IRVINE
DERRICK VAIL, Editor-in-Chief
9730 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills, California
700 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago 11 WILLIAM H. CRISP, Consulting Editor
JAMES E. LEBENSOHN
1276 Emerson Street, Denver 3
4010 West Madison Street, Chicago 24
LAWRENCE T. POST, Consulting Editor
DONALD J. LYLE
601 Union Trust Building, Cincinnati 2
640 South Kingshighway, Saint Louis 10
WILLIAM A. MANN
WILLIAM L. BENEDICT
30 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago 2
The Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
JOHN V. V. NICHOLLS
1414 Drummond Street, Montreal
FREDERICK C. CORDES
384 Post Street, San Francisco 8
ALGERNON B. REESE
73 East Seventy-first Street, New York 21
SIR STEWART DUKE-ELDER
PHILLIPS THYGESON
63 Harley Street, London, W.l
87 North 6th Street San Jose, California
EDWIN B. DUNPHY
243 Charles Street, Boston 14
M. URIBE TRONCOSO
500 West End Avenue, New York 24
F. HERBERT HAESSLER
ALAN C. WOODS
561 North 15th Street, Milwaukee 3
Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore 5
PARKER HEATH
KATHERINE FERGUSON CHALKLEY, Manuscript Editor 243 Charles Street, Boston 14 Lake Geneva, Wisconsin Directors: WILLIAM L. BENEDICT, President; FREDERICK C. CORDES, Vice-President; WILLIAM A. MANN, Secretary and Treasurer; WILLIAM H. CRISP, LAWRENCE T. POST, DERRICK VAIL.
Address original papers, other scientific communications including correspondence, also books for review to Dr. Derrick Vail, 700 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago 11, Illinois; Society Proceedings to Mrs. Katherine F. Chalkley, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Manuscripts should be original copies, typed in double space, with wide margins. Exchange copies of medical journals should be sent to Dr. F. Herbert Haessler, 561 North 15th Street, Milwaukee 3, Wisconsin. Subscriptions, application for single copies, notices of changes of address, and communications with reference to advertising should be addressed to the Manager of Subscriptions and Advertising, 664 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago 11, Illinois. Copy of advertisements must be sent to the manager by the 15th of the month preceding its appearance. Change of address notice should be received not later than the 15th of the month prior to the issue for which the change is to go into effect. Both old and new addresses should be given. Author's proofs should be corrected and returned within forty-eight hours to the Manuscript Editor, Mrs. Katherine F. Chalkley, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Twenty-five reprints of each article will be sup plied to the author without charge. Additional reprints may be obtained from the printer, the George Banta Publishing Company, 450-458 Ahnaip Street, Menasha, Wisconsin, if ordered at the time proofs are returned. But reprints to contain colored plates must be ordered when the article is accepted. A GOOD, A V E R Y GOOD M A N O n Sunday morning, July 16, 1950, a service in commemoration of Sir William Bowman was held in St. J a m e s ' Church, Picadilly, London. A more fitting prelude t o the great X V I International Congress of Ophthalmology could not have been con ceived, T h e bomb-shattered shell of this beautiful W r e n church lay, peacefully sur rounded by its lovely forecourt and garden, glowing in the soft noon brilliance of a mid summer English day. I t s destroyed roof and burned-out interior had scarcely been touched since the terrible night of its agony.
Indomitable grass a n d flowering weeds peeped out from under t h e charred timbers of altar, pews a n d holy beams a n d the u n yielding hand of m a n could be discerned in the partial and temporary restoration of t h e south aisle as promises of resurgence. T h e program stated austerely "the part of the church which has been rendered fit for use again, after its destruction by enemy action, will accommodate about 140 people only." Those who could not gain admittance, and there were many, heard t h e service broadcast into the Baptistry and into the forecourt. T h e experience was unforgettably moving.
1931
1932
EDITORIALS
It began with the hymn accompanied by a simple melodeon, "From Thee all skill and science flow; All pity, care and love; All calm and courage, faith and hope—; O, pour them from above!" Then followed the gospel lesson from Mark X, v. 46. Beautifully read by Mr. Frank Laws, the secretary-general of the Congress, it describes the miracle of blind Bartimeus. Prayers were then offered by the Venera ble C. E. Lambert, Archdeacon of Hampstead, Rector of St. James, Picadilly, who was in charge of the service. An address by Professor Nordenson, president of the International Council of Ophthalmology followed. He said: "The International Council of Ophthal mology has felt a strong desire to give an outward token of its admiration of Great Britain's large contributions to our science and of the men behind them. It has there fore asked for permission to lay down a wreath to the memory of one of the foremost of them, William Bowman. "We are assembled here near the epitaph of one of the most remarkable men in mod ern ophthalmology, a genius of rare uni versality, a character of rare nobility. After having already, as an undergraduate, made highly valuable discoveries in histology and, after having been an admirable teacher of physiology, he devoted the best years of his manhood to ophthalmology; here his famili arity with the said sciences enabled him to widen considerably our knowledge of the structure and the functions of the eye, and here his open eye and well-balanced judg ment brought 'highly valuable contributions to all branches of ophthalmic surgery. He was an admirable clinician and, according to his great contemporary v. Graefe, one of the most skilful operators of his time, equalled by few, surpassed by none. About his magnanimous personage there grew up a generation of British ophthalmic surgeons, whose works became of fundamental impor tance to the development of our science. "When in these days the International
Congress of Ophthalmology meets here in London, we recollect how international re lations in modern ophthalmology were first established when, nearly a century ago, three leading men, William Bowman, Cornelius Donders, and Albrecht v. Graefe met here in London, in 1851. That meeting left in each of them a profound admiration of the two others, and in close cooperation, these three eminent men then carried through the great reform of ophthalmology. "In deepest admiration the International Council of Ophthalmology pays homage to William Bowman's noble personality and great achievements." Sir Stewart Duke-Elder, president of the XVI International Congress of Ophthal mology, continued: "I can think of no more delightful gesture of sympathetic understanding of the spirit of British ophthalmology than this act of Professor Nordenson's of laying this wreath on behalf of the International Council at the Memorial Plaque of Sir William Bowman. To us in Britain, of course, he was in every sense the founder of our special branch of surgery, just as he was the first president of our ophthalmological society. But renowned as he was throughout the world as a scientist who made immense contributions to our knowledge, respected as a surgeon, a physi cian, and a teacher unequalled in this coun try, in time he is remembered still, far beyond the boundaries of this country, for his kind liness, his sincerity, and the warmth of his personality. "By this graceful act, Professor Norden son, you and your Council are honouring not only the memory of Sir William Bowman, not only through him, British ophthalmol ogy, but also those traditions of kindliness, integrity, and Christianity which are the proud characteristics of his and our profes sion. It is strangely moving to stand here in this ruined church where 100 years ago Bowman used to worship, for although the passions of man have destroyed this build ing, yet your offering makes it clear that the
EDITORIALS
generosity, the charity, and the gratitude of man still live and are more enduring. "With these feelings, in the name of British ophthalmology, with pride and in humility, I accept your graceful offering; and I hope you will believe me when I as sure you that the memory of today's service will remain long with us." The service concluded with the hymn, "Thine arm, O Lord, in days of old; Was strong to heal and save; It triumphed o'er disease and death; O'er darkness and the grave; To Thee they went, the blind, the dumb; The palsied and the lame; The leper with his tainted life, The sick with fevered frame." After the Blessing by Archdeacon Lam bert, Professor Nordenson placed a wreath on the Memorial Tablet of Sir William Bowman in the Baptistry, seen in the accom panying photograph, which poignantly re-
The Memorial Tablet of Sir William Bowman in the bomb-shattered Baptistry of St. James' Church, Picadilly, London.
1933
veals part of the ruins of the interior as well. The verse on the inscription is from Longfellow's poem "Blind Bartimeus," and was suggested by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, who was a close friend of Sir William Bow man. Longfellow on November 3, 1841, wrote the poem, inspired by reading the Greek verses of St. Mark used in the lesson by Mr. Law. He said, "At once the whole scene presented itself to my mind in lively colors, the walls of Jericho, the cold wind through the gateway, the ragged, blind beg gar, his shrill cry, the tumultuous crowd, the serene Christ, the miracle; and these things took the form I have given them above, where perforce, I have retained the striking Greek expressions of entreaty, comfort, and healing. The Voices Three are the beggar's 'Lord, have mercy on me,' the people's 'Be of good comfort, rise, he calleth thee' and Christ's 'Go thy way, thy faith has made thee whole.' " Bowman's courtesy, his gentleness, his in tegrity, his loyalty to his friends, his devo tion to his patients, his forbearance to his critics, his skill and Christianity have en dured to this day. Inventive genius, didactic ability, operative skill, gift of organization, or a combination of all of these qualities endow no man with the power to arouse his fellows to higher efforts to better the condi tion of fellow men, save that he has Bow man's quality of heart and soul. Ophthalmologists throughout the world will take pleasure in contributing willingly toward the restoration of St. James' Church, Picadilly. It is suggested that the ophthalmic societies of the United States take the leader ship in the establishing of a fund for this purpose, in memory of Sir William Bow man. Derrick Vail.
Monthly
by the Ophthalmic
Publishing
Company
EDITORIAL STAFF S. RODMAN IRVINE
DERRICK VAIL, Editor-in-Chief
9730 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills, California
700 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago 11 WILLIAM H. CRISP, Consulting Editor
JAMES E. LEBENSOHN
1276 Emerson Street, Denver 3
4010 West Madison Street, Chicago 24
LAWRENCE T. POST, Consulting Editor
DONALD J. LYLE
601 Union Trust Building, Cincinnati 2
640 South Kingshighway, Saint Louis 10
WILLIAM A. MANN
WILLIAM L. BENEDICT
30 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago 2
The Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
JOHN V. V. NICHOLLS
1414 Drummond Street, Montreal
FREDERICK C. CORDES
384 Post Street, San Francisco 8
ALGERNON B. REESE
73 East Seventy-first Street, New York 21
SIR STEWART DUKE-ELDER
PHILLIPS THYGESON
63 Harley Street, London, W.l
87 North 6th Street San Jose, California
EDWIN B. DUNPHY
243 Charles Street, Boston 14
M. URIBE TRONCOSO
500 West End Avenue, New York 24
F. HERBERT HAESSLER
ALAN C. WOODS
561 North 15th Street, Milwaukee 3
Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore 5
PARKER HEATH
KATHERINE FERGUSON CHALKLEY, Manuscript Editor 243 Charles Street, Boston 14 Lake Geneva, Wisconsin Directors: WILLIAM L. BENEDICT, President; FREDERICK C. CORDES, Vice-President; WILLIAM A. MANN, Secretary and Treasurer; WILLIAM H. CRISP, LAWRENCE T. POST, DERRICK VAIL.
Address original papers, other scientific communications including correspondence, also books for review to Dr. Derrick Vail, 700 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago 11, Illinois; Society Proceedings to Mrs. Katherine F. Chalkley, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Manuscripts should be original copies, typed in double space, with wide margins. Exchange copies of medical journals should be sent to Dr. F. Herbert Haessler, 561 North 15th Street, Milwaukee 3, Wisconsin. Subscriptions, application for single copies, notices of changes of address, and communications with reference to advertising should be addressed to the Manager of Subscriptions and Advertising, 664 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago 11, Illinois. Copy of advertisements must be sent to the manager by the 15th of the month preceding its appearance. Change of address notice should be received not later than the 15th of the month prior to the issue for which the change is to go into effect. Both old and new addresses should be given. Author's proofs should be corrected and returned within forty-eight hours to the Manuscript Editor, Mrs. Katherine F. Chalkley, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Twenty-five reprints of each article will be sup plied to the author without charge. Additional reprints may be obtained from the printer, the George Banta Publishing Company, 450-458 Ahnaip Street, Menasha, Wisconsin, if ordered at the time proofs are returned. But reprints to contain colored plates must be ordered when the article is accepted. A GOOD, A V E R Y GOOD M A N O n Sunday morning, July 16, 1950, a service in commemoration of Sir William Bowman was held in St. J a m e s ' Church, Picadilly, London. A more fitting prelude t o the great X V I International Congress of Ophthalmology could not have been con ceived, T h e bomb-shattered shell of this beautiful W r e n church lay, peacefully sur rounded by its lovely forecourt and garden, glowing in the soft noon brilliance of a mid summer English day. I t s destroyed roof and burned-out interior had scarcely been touched since the terrible night of its agony.
Indomitable grass a n d flowering weeds peeped out from under t h e charred timbers of altar, pews a n d holy beams a n d the u n yielding hand of m a n could be discerned in the partial and temporary restoration of t h e south aisle as promises of resurgence. T h e program stated austerely "the part of the church which has been rendered fit for use again, after its destruction by enemy action, will accommodate about 140 people only." Those who could not gain admittance, and there were many, heard t h e service broadcast into the Baptistry and into the forecourt. T h e experience was unforgettably moving.
1931
1932
EDITORIALS
It began with the hymn accompanied by a simple melodeon, "From Thee all skill and science flow; All pity, care and love; All calm and courage, faith and hope—; O, pour them from above!" Then followed the gospel lesson from Mark X, v. 46. Beautifully read by Mr. Frank Laws, the secretary-general of the Congress, it describes the miracle of blind Bartimeus. Prayers were then offered by the Venera ble C. E. Lambert, Archdeacon of Hampstead, Rector of St. James, Picadilly, who was in charge of the service. An address by Professor Nordenson, president of the International Council of Ophthalmology followed. He said: "The International Council of Ophthal mology has felt a strong desire to give an outward token of its admiration of Great Britain's large contributions to our science and of the men behind them. It has there fore asked for permission to lay down a wreath to the memory of one of the foremost of them, William Bowman. "We are assembled here near the epitaph of one of the most remarkable men in mod ern ophthalmology, a genius of rare uni versality, a character of rare nobility. After having already, as an undergraduate, made highly valuable discoveries in histology and, after having been an admirable teacher of physiology, he devoted the best years of his manhood to ophthalmology; here his famili arity with the said sciences enabled him to widen considerably our knowledge of the structure and the functions of the eye, and here his open eye and well-balanced judg ment brought 'highly valuable contributions to all branches of ophthalmic surgery. He was an admirable clinician and, according to his great contemporary v. Graefe, one of the most skilful operators of his time, equalled by few, surpassed by none. About his magnanimous personage there grew up a generation of British ophthalmic surgeons, whose works became of fundamental impor tance to the development of our science. "When in these days the International
Congress of Ophthalmology meets here in London, we recollect how international re lations in modern ophthalmology were first established when, nearly a century ago, three leading men, William Bowman, Cornelius Donders, and Albrecht v. Graefe met here in London, in 1851. That meeting left in each of them a profound admiration of the two others, and in close cooperation, these three eminent men then carried through the great reform of ophthalmology. "In deepest admiration the International Council of Ophthalmology pays homage to William Bowman's noble personality and great achievements." Sir Stewart Duke-Elder, president of the XVI International Congress of Ophthal mology, continued: "I can think of no more delightful gesture of sympathetic understanding of the spirit of British ophthalmology than this act of Professor Nordenson's of laying this wreath on behalf of the International Council at the Memorial Plaque of Sir William Bowman. To us in Britain, of course, he was in every sense the founder of our special branch of surgery, just as he was the first president of our ophthalmological society. But renowned as he was throughout the world as a scientist who made immense contributions to our knowledge, respected as a surgeon, a physi cian, and a teacher unequalled in this coun try, in time he is remembered still, far beyond the boundaries of this country, for his kind liness, his sincerity, and the warmth of his personality. "By this graceful act, Professor Norden son, you and your Council are honouring not only the memory of Sir William Bowman, not only through him, British ophthalmol ogy, but also those traditions of kindliness, integrity, and Christianity which are the proud characteristics of his and our profes sion. It is strangely moving to stand here in this ruined church where 100 years ago Bowman used to worship, for although the passions of man have destroyed this build ing, yet your offering makes it clear that the
EDITORIALS
generosity, the charity, and the gratitude of man still live and are more enduring. "With these feelings, in the name of British ophthalmology, with pride and in humility, I accept your graceful offering; and I hope you will believe me when I as sure you that the memory of today's service will remain long with us." The service concluded with the hymn, "Thine arm, O Lord, in days of old; Was strong to heal and save; It triumphed o'er disease and death; O'er darkness and the grave; To Thee they went, the blind, the dumb; The palsied and the lame; The leper with his tainted life, The sick with fevered frame." After the Blessing by Archdeacon Lam bert, Professor Nordenson placed a wreath on the Memorial Tablet of Sir William Bowman in the Baptistry, seen in the accom panying photograph, which poignantly re-
The Memorial Tablet of Sir William Bowman in the bomb-shattered Baptistry of St. James' Church, Picadilly, London.
1933
veals part of the ruins of the interior as well. The verse on the inscription is from Longfellow's poem "Blind Bartimeus," and was suggested by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, who was a close friend of Sir William Bow man. Longfellow on November 3, 1841, wrote the poem, inspired by reading the Greek verses of St. Mark used in the lesson by Mr. Law. He said, "At once the whole scene presented itself to my mind in lively colors, the walls of Jericho, the cold wind through the gateway, the ragged, blind beg gar, his shrill cry, the tumultuous crowd, the serene Christ, the miracle; and these things took the form I have given them above, where perforce, I have retained the striking Greek expressions of entreaty, comfort, and healing. The Voices Three are the beggar's 'Lord, have mercy on me,' the people's 'Be of good comfort, rise, he calleth thee' and Christ's 'Go thy way, thy faith has made thee whole.' " Bowman's courtesy, his gentleness, his in tegrity, his loyalty to his friends, his devo tion to his patients, his forbearance to his critics, his skill and Christianity have en dured to this day. Inventive genius, didactic ability, operative skill, gift of organization, or a combination of all of these qualities endow no man with the power to arouse his fellows to higher efforts to better the condi tion of fellow men, save that he has Bow man's quality of heart and soul. Ophthalmologists throughout the world will take pleasure in contributing willingly toward the restoration of St. James' Church, Picadilly. It is suggested that the ophthalmic societies of the United States take the leader ship in the establishing of a fund for this purpose, in memory of Sir William Bow man. Derrick Vail.