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A Simple Method of Removing Eyelashes by Electrolysis⋆
N O T E S , CASES, I N S T R U M E N T S
tioning. T h e r e was no evidence of cup ping of the optic nerve head.
mologist could have available the follow ing inexpensive equipment. SIMPLIFIED EQUIPMENT
COMMENT
Spontaneous cysts of the iris stroma usually occur in young people under 20 years of age, but one case was reported in a man of 58. They rarely give rise to any symptoms of irritation or to glau coma. According to Duke-Elder, only 41 cases u p to the present have been recorded and accepted as spontaneous cysts with out any prior trauma. T h e r e is no con sensus as to whether the cyst is meso dermal or ectodermal in origin, but the fluid is secreted by the epithelial cells which line the cyst cavity. T h e textbooks of Collins and Mayou, Fuchs, and DukeElder and the Atlas of Histopatkology of the Eye by A. Fuchs, parts one and two, have no illustrations of a case similar to the one here presented. 136 East 64th Street
S7
(21).
A SIMPLE METHOD OF REMOVING EYELASHES BY E L E C T R O L Y S I S * JACK S . GUYTON, Baltimore
M.D.
T h e root of an eyelash may be de stroyed by electrolysis without causing detectable scarring. A galvanic unit such as that devised by Walker may be used for this purpose. However, few ophthal mologists have access to such a unit, and all too many patients with wild lashes are treated by simply pulling the offending lashes every few weeks. P e r m a n e n t re moval of these lashes by electrolysis can be extremely simple, and every ophthal* From the Wilmer Ophthalmological Insti tute of the Johns Hopkins University and Hos pital.
1 45-volt " B " battery 1 6-ft. strand of insulated copper wire 1 22,000-ohm resistance (price = 9 cents) 1 hemostat 1 very small straight needle with a sharp point 1 piece of gauze TECHNIQUE
Novocaine is injected around the of fending lash. T h e 22,000-ohm resistance is connected to the negative pole of the " B " battery and the wire is attached to this. T h e other end of the wire is attached to the handle of the hemostat, and the needle is grasped with the hemostat. T h e ophthalmologist holds the hemostat with a piece of gauze as insulation. T h e patient is asked to grasp the positive pole of the " B " battery firmly between thumb and forefinger, moistened with saline. T h e tiny needle is then inserted alongside the oflFending lash down to the lash root (about 3 m m . ) and held there until bubbles of hydrogen come out freely a n d the lash itself floats out. T h i s usually requires from 5 to 30 seconds. T h e principle involved in destroying a lash root in this simple m a n n e r is t o pass a galvanic current of from 0.2 to 2.0 Ma. through the patient's body. Since the needle (cathode) inserted into the lash root is very small, a sufficient concen tration of hydroxyl ions is generated around the needle tip to destroy the hair follicle. T h e desired amount of current is obtained with a 45 volt " B " battery and a 22,000-ohm resistance in series. T h e electrical resistance encountered at the contact between fingers and positive ter minal of the battery usually varies be-
NOTES, CASES,
58
INSTRUMENTS
tween 10,000 and 100,000 ohms, and the resistance at the tip of the needle is neg ligible. There is no danger of obtaining too much current because this is limited to 2 Ma. by the resistance unit, even should there be almost no resistance elsewhere in the circuit. Too little current can be ob tained if the positive terminal of the bat tery is not grasped firmly or if the fingers are not moist. T h e time necessary to ac complish destruction of the hair follicle varies inversely with the amount of cur rent.
concerning the normal and abnormal functions of the extraocular muscles. A small percentage possess knowledge of the function of individual muscles acting upon the globe while in the primary po sition, but have no understanding of movements in the secondary fields or of the conjugate function involved in the maintenance of binocular single vision. A logical understanding of heterophoria, heterotropia, and paralyses is impossible if the normal functions are vaguely or in correctly understood.
T h e simplified equipment listed above may be elaborated upon, if the ophthal mologist so desires, b y : ( 1 ) wiring to the positive terminal of the battery a metal sheet which can be grasped by the pa tient's hand or strapped to his arm, ( 2 ) wiring the negative terminal directly to a needle which is insulated except for the tip, ( 3 ) insertion of an ammeter in the circuit. However, these elaborations arc not at all necessary.
In order to teach this branch of oph thalmology to a large group in an ex tremely limited period of time, a motordriven ophthalmotrope has been con structed (figs. 1 and 2 ) .
A
MOTOR-DRIVEN
OPHTHALMOTROPE M E R R I L L J. R E E H , COL. ( M C ) , A . U . S . , Ε . W . S T I M M E L , AND F . V . Randolph Field,
HEAGAN
Each plastic globe,* 20 inches in di ameter, is mounted on a movable table which is 30 by 40 inches in size. A n an terior segment showing a cornea, anterior chamber, and iris has been attached to the globe proper. T h e inner surface of the globe has been painted white. T h e globe is attached to the stand by means of a ball-and-socket joint. Rotation is present about three a x e s ; however rotation can not be accomplished in the anterior-pos terior axis with the present motor ar rangement. Nevertheless, the student can
Texas
In teaching large numbers of graduate physicians at the A r m y Air Forces School of Aviation Medicine, it has been found that the majority have little knowledge
Fig. 1 (Reeh, Stimmel, and H e a g a n ) . Front view with eyes in the primary position.
• T h e plastic globes were originally planned and developed by Dr. R. G. Scobee, St. Louis, Missouri, while on duty at the A.A.F. School of -aviation Medicine.
Fig. 2 (Reeh, Stimmel, and H e a g a n ) . Rear view with eyes in the primary position.
tioning. T h e r e was no evidence of cup ping of the optic nerve head.
mologist could have available the follow ing inexpensive equipment. SIMPLIFIED EQUIPMENT
COMMENT
Spontaneous cysts of the iris stroma usually occur in young people under 20 years of age, but one case was reported in a man of 58. They rarely give rise to any symptoms of irritation or to glau coma. According to Duke-Elder, only 41 cases u p to the present have been recorded and accepted as spontaneous cysts with out any prior trauma. T h e r e is no con sensus as to whether the cyst is meso dermal or ectodermal in origin, but the fluid is secreted by the epithelial cells which line the cyst cavity. T h e textbooks of Collins and Mayou, Fuchs, and DukeElder and the Atlas of Histopatkology of the Eye by A. Fuchs, parts one and two, have no illustrations of a case similar to the one here presented. 136 East 64th Street
S7
(21).
A SIMPLE METHOD OF REMOVING EYELASHES BY E L E C T R O L Y S I S * JACK S . GUYTON, Baltimore
M.D.
T h e root of an eyelash may be de stroyed by electrolysis without causing detectable scarring. A galvanic unit such as that devised by Walker may be used for this purpose. However, few ophthal mologists have access to such a unit, and all too many patients with wild lashes are treated by simply pulling the offending lashes every few weeks. P e r m a n e n t re moval of these lashes by electrolysis can be extremely simple, and every ophthal* From the Wilmer Ophthalmological Insti tute of the Johns Hopkins University and Hos pital.
1 45-volt " B " battery 1 6-ft. strand of insulated copper wire 1 22,000-ohm resistance (price = 9 cents) 1 hemostat 1 very small straight needle with a sharp point 1 piece of gauze TECHNIQUE
Novocaine is injected around the of fending lash. T h e 22,000-ohm resistance is connected to the negative pole of the " B " battery and the wire is attached to this. T h e other end of the wire is attached to the handle of the hemostat, and the needle is grasped with the hemostat. T h e ophthalmologist holds the hemostat with a piece of gauze as insulation. T h e patient is asked to grasp the positive pole of the " B " battery firmly between thumb and forefinger, moistened with saline. T h e tiny needle is then inserted alongside the oflFending lash down to the lash root (about 3 m m . ) and held there until bubbles of hydrogen come out freely a n d the lash itself floats out. T h i s usually requires from 5 to 30 seconds. T h e principle involved in destroying a lash root in this simple m a n n e r is t o pass a galvanic current of from 0.2 to 2.0 Ma. through the patient's body. Since the needle (cathode) inserted into the lash root is very small, a sufficient concen tration of hydroxyl ions is generated around the needle tip to destroy the hair follicle. T h e desired amount of current is obtained with a 45 volt " B " battery and a 22,000-ohm resistance in series. T h e electrical resistance encountered at the contact between fingers and positive ter minal of the battery usually varies be-
NOTES, CASES,
58
INSTRUMENTS
tween 10,000 and 100,000 ohms, and the resistance at the tip of the needle is neg ligible. There is no danger of obtaining too much current because this is limited to 2 Ma. by the resistance unit, even should there be almost no resistance elsewhere in the circuit. Too little current can be ob tained if the positive terminal of the bat tery is not grasped firmly or if the fingers are not moist. T h e time necessary to ac complish destruction of the hair follicle varies inversely with the amount of cur rent.
concerning the normal and abnormal functions of the extraocular muscles. A small percentage possess knowledge of the function of individual muscles acting upon the globe while in the primary po sition, but have no understanding of movements in the secondary fields or of the conjugate function involved in the maintenance of binocular single vision. A logical understanding of heterophoria, heterotropia, and paralyses is impossible if the normal functions are vaguely or in correctly understood.
T h e simplified equipment listed above may be elaborated upon, if the ophthal mologist so desires, b y : ( 1 ) wiring to the positive terminal of the battery a metal sheet which can be grasped by the pa tient's hand or strapped to his arm, ( 2 ) wiring the negative terminal directly to a needle which is insulated except for the tip, ( 3 ) insertion of an ammeter in the circuit. However, these elaborations arc not at all necessary.
In order to teach this branch of oph thalmology to a large group in an ex tremely limited period of time, a motordriven ophthalmotrope has been con structed (figs. 1 and 2 ) .
A
MOTOR-DRIVEN
OPHTHALMOTROPE M E R R I L L J. R E E H , COL. ( M C ) , A . U . S . , Ε . W . S T I M M E L , AND F . V . Randolph Field,
HEAGAN
Each plastic globe,* 20 inches in di ameter, is mounted on a movable table which is 30 by 40 inches in size. A n an terior segment showing a cornea, anterior chamber, and iris has been attached to the globe proper. T h e inner surface of the globe has been painted white. T h e globe is attached to the stand by means of a ball-and-socket joint. Rotation is present about three a x e s ; however rotation can not be accomplished in the anterior-pos terior axis with the present motor ar rangement. Nevertheless, the student can
Texas
In teaching large numbers of graduate physicians at the A r m y Air Forces School of Aviation Medicine, it has been found that the majority have little knowledge
Fig. 1 (Reeh, Stimmel, and H e a g a n ) . Front view with eyes in the primary position.
• T h e plastic globes were originally planned and developed by Dr. R. G. Scobee, St. Louis, Missouri, while on duty at the A.A.F. School of -aviation Medicine.
Fig. 2 (Reeh, Stimmel, and H e a g a n ) . Rear view with eyes in the primary position.