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Basic Science Research in Ophthalmology
EDITORIALS
453
this technique of examination was still suf- tions in the international political situation, ficiently youthful to have acknowledged a that Congress is likely to be attended by a period during which the master Graefe had large number of colleagues from the United regarded glaucomatous excavation as a pro- States, and the making of necessary reservatrusion of the optic disc (an impression tions will soon be proper mattej- for conwhich he soon revised). There followed the sideration. Paris Congress of 1862, the first Amsterdam During World War II, the impossibility Congress of 1867, London in 1872, New of holding such Congresses in Europe led York in 1876 (Herman Knapp as a shining an energetic group of Americap ophthallight), Milan in 1880, Heidelberg in 1888, mologists, north and south of the Equator, Edinburgh 1894, then Utrecht (Holland) to plan for the organization of a Pan1899, Lucerne 1904, Naples 1909. American Congress of Ophthalmology. As War of course interfered with the regular a beginning, this was held after the consuccession and sometimes with place of clusion of the meeting of the American meeting. There had been the Franco-Prus- Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolarynsian conflict. World War I clashed with the gology at Cleveland in 1940, the languages arrangements for the twelfth Congress, officially used in the program being Spanish, planned for St. Petersburg (now Lenin- Portuguese, and English. grad) in 1914. The very successful second A second Pan-American Cpngress of Amsterdam Congress fell about midway be- Ophthalmology was planned for November, tween World Wars I and II, in 1929. The 1943, in Montevideo, Uruguay, but the fourteenth Congress, in Madrid, 1933, was travel difficulties arising from the War a few years ahead of the Franco revolt in caused repeated postponements of this Spain. The Cairo Congress of 1937 was held gathering, which was finally held in Nowhile Spain was still in the throes of fra- vember, 1945. A third Pan-American Contricidal warfare. gress was very successfully staged in HaVery successful gatherings occurred re- vana in January, 1948, with a large attendspectively in Washington in 1922 and in ance by ophthalmologists (and their famiLondon in 1925. The former could not be lies) from North, South, and Central completely international in its scope, because America. The next, fourth, Pan-American officially the United States was not yet at Congress will be held in Mexico City in peace with Germany and Austria. It is not, 1952. however, accurate to state (as was done Undoubtedly, under peaceful conditions, quite recently) that the Washington Con- many ophthalmologists of the United States gress was limited to English-speaking will attend both the London International ophthalmologists. German could not be rec- Congress in 1950 and the Mexico Panognized, but the official languages of the American Congress in 1952, and both events Congress were English, French, and Span- should be kept in mind in making travel ish, and papers were read in all three. The plans for the coming four years. Congress at London in 1925 was definitely W. H. Crisp. a Congress of English-speaking ophthalmologists, and was very well attended. BASIC SCIENCE RESEARCH After a good deal of discussion between IN OPHTHALMOLOGY the official representatives of different counOne of the encouraging features of posttries, it appears now that the sixteenth International Congress of Ophthalmology will war ophthalmology in the United States is be held in London, England, July 17 to 21, the number and quality of basic science 1950. Apart from any startling complica- studies dealing with eye problems that have
454
EDITORIALS
been reported. A substantial proportion of these studies has been made by ophthalmologists but more have been made by nonophthalmologists working in university eye departments or institutes or in the basic science departments of the medical schools and universities. The Association for Research in Ophthalmology, which is the only national ophthalmological society dealing primarily with experimental ophthalmology and offering membership on an equal basis to both ophthalmologists and nonophthalmological basic science workers, has recognized the importance of providing a common meeting ground for the ophthalmologist and the nonclinical investigator. At the 1948 meeting of the association, its constitution was amended to permit the formation of regional sections similar to those established by such other organizations as the Society of American Bacteriologists. Section secretaries have already been named and two sections—the Western Section whose secretary is Dr. Michael J. Hogan of San Francisco; the Eastern Section whose secretary is Dr. Alson E. Braley of New York—have already held section meetings. The Western Section meeting was held on March 27, 1948, in San Francisco and was attended by about 75 ophthalmologists and nonophthalmological investigators from the various basic science departments of the western universities. The program included the presentation of five experimental studies, followed by a banquet and an address by Frank W. Weymouth, Ph.D., professor of physiology at Stanford University, entitled, "Recent measurements of the living eye and their relation to the development of myopia." A second meeting is to be held in San Francisco this month, immediately following the examinations of the American Board of Ophthalmology. The first meeting of the Eastern Section was held in New York City on November 13, 1948. Four papers were presented, one by an ophthalmologist and the other three
by basic science workers from Harvard University and Columbia University. About 100 persons attended the meeting. The section meetings, as judged from these first two, will not be in competition with the annual meeting of the national association but on the contrary will, in the main, provide a forum for the presentation of preliminary reports, the more important of which may subsequently be developed for presentation at the national meeting. Perhaps the most important function of the sections will be to bring together on a regional basis all the clinical and nonclinical investigators interested in ophthalmic research. In this age of cooperative research it is only by a constant interchange of ideas, facilitated by personal contacts between workers, that we can hope to see the full development of basic science investigation. Phillips Thygeson.
THE FOURTH ARGENTINE CONGRESS OF OPHTHALMOLOGY The Argentine Congress of Ophthalmology, which is held every four years, had its fourth assembly December 13 through 18, 1948, at Mar Del Plata, Argentina. The officers this year were : President, Dr. Diego M. Argiiello ; vice-president, Dr. Roberto F. Pereira ; secretary, Dr. Juan L. Giambruni ; treasurer, Dr. Bruno Tosi. Mar Del Plata, Argentina's most famous and fashionable summer resort, is located on the coast 250 miles south of Buenos Aires. The meeting was held in the modern, air-conditioned auditorium of the Casino, or Kursaal, and most of those attending the congress lived at the beautiful Hermitage Hotel just across the street from the Casino. The entire week was devoted to the meeting. On Monday morning the formal inaugural ceremonies were held at which time a cordial welcome was extended by the president of the congress, by federal and municipal officers, and by the titular professors of ophthalmology at the various uni-
453
this technique of examination was still suf- tions in the international political situation, ficiently youthful to have acknowledged a that Congress is likely to be attended by a period during which the master Graefe had large number of colleagues from the United regarded glaucomatous excavation as a pro- States, and the making of necessary reservatrusion of the optic disc (an impression tions will soon be proper mattej- for conwhich he soon revised). There followed the sideration. Paris Congress of 1862, the first Amsterdam During World War II, the impossibility Congress of 1867, London in 1872, New of holding such Congresses in Europe led York in 1876 (Herman Knapp as a shining an energetic group of Americap ophthallight), Milan in 1880, Heidelberg in 1888, mologists, north and south of the Equator, Edinburgh 1894, then Utrecht (Holland) to plan for the organization of a Pan1899, Lucerne 1904, Naples 1909. American Congress of Ophthalmology. As War of course interfered with the regular a beginning, this was held after the consuccession and sometimes with place of clusion of the meeting of the American meeting. There had been the Franco-Prus- Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolarynsian conflict. World War I clashed with the gology at Cleveland in 1940, the languages arrangements for the twelfth Congress, officially used in the program being Spanish, planned for St. Petersburg (now Lenin- Portuguese, and English. grad) in 1914. The very successful second A second Pan-American Cpngress of Amsterdam Congress fell about midway be- Ophthalmology was planned for November, tween World Wars I and II, in 1929. The 1943, in Montevideo, Uruguay, but the fourteenth Congress, in Madrid, 1933, was travel difficulties arising from the War a few years ahead of the Franco revolt in caused repeated postponements of this Spain. The Cairo Congress of 1937 was held gathering, which was finally held in Nowhile Spain was still in the throes of fra- vember, 1945. A third Pan-American Contricidal warfare. gress was very successfully staged in HaVery successful gatherings occurred re- vana in January, 1948, with a large attendspectively in Washington in 1922 and in ance by ophthalmologists (and their famiLondon in 1925. The former could not be lies) from North, South, and Central completely international in its scope, because America. The next, fourth, Pan-American officially the United States was not yet at Congress will be held in Mexico City in peace with Germany and Austria. It is not, 1952. however, accurate to state (as was done Undoubtedly, under peaceful conditions, quite recently) that the Washington Con- many ophthalmologists of the United States gress was limited to English-speaking will attend both the London International ophthalmologists. German could not be rec- Congress in 1950 and the Mexico Panognized, but the official languages of the American Congress in 1952, and both events Congress were English, French, and Span- should be kept in mind in making travel ish, and papers were read in all three. The plans for the coming four years. Congress at London in 1925 was definitely W. H. Crisp. a Congress of English-speaking ophthalmologists, and was very well attended. BASIC SCIENCE RESEARCH After a good deal of discussion between IN OPHTHALMOLOGY the official representatives of different counOne of the encouraging features of posttries, it appears now that the sixteenth International Congress of Ophthalmology will war ophthalmology in the United States is be held in London, England, July 17 to 21, the number and quality of basic science 1950. Apart from any startling complica- studies dealing with eye problems that have
454
EDITORIALS
been reported. A substantial proportion of these studies has been made by ophthalmologists but more have been made by nonophthalmologists working in university eye departments or institutes or in the basic science departments of the medical schools and universities. The Association for Research in Ophthalmology, which is the only national ophthalmological society dealing primarily with experimental ophthalmology and offering membership on an equal basis to both ophthalmologists and nonophthalmological basic science workers, has recognized the importance of providing a common meeting ground for the ophthalmologist and the nonclinical investigator. At the 1948 meeting of the association, its constitution was amended to permit the formation of regional sections similar to those established by such other organizations as the Society of American Bacteriologists. Section secretaries have already been named and two sections—the Western Section whose secretary is Dr. Michael J. Hogan of San Francisco; the Eastern Section whose secretary is Dr. Alson E. Braley of New York—have already held section meetings. The Western Section meeting was held on March 27, 1948, in San Francisco and was attended by about 75 ophthalmologists and nonophthalmological investigators from the various basic science departments of the western universities. The program included the presentation of five experimental studies, followed by a banquet and an address by Frank W. Weymouth, Ph.D., professor of physiology at Stanford University, entitled, "Recent measurements of the living eye and their relation to the development of myopia." A second meeting is to be held in San Francisco this month, immediately following the examinations of the American Board of Ophthalmology. The first meeting of the Eastern Section was held in New York City on November 13, 1948. Four papers were presented, one by an ophthalmologist and the other three
by basic science workers from Harvard University and Columbia University. About 100 persons attended the meeting. The section meetings, as judged from these first two, will not be in competition with the annual meeting of the national association but on the contrary will, in the main, provide a forum for the presentation of preliminary reports, the more important of which may subsequently be developed for presentation at the national meeting. Perhaps the most important function of the sections will be to bring together on a regional basis all the clinical and nonclinical investigators interested in ophthalmic research. In this age of cooperative research it is only by a constant interchange of ideas, facilitated by personal contacts between workers, that we can hope to see the full development of basic science investigation. Phillips Thygeson.
THE FOURTH ARGENTINE CONGRESS OF OPHTHALMOLOGY The Argentine Congress of Ophthalmology, which is held every four years, had its fourth assembly December 13 through 18, 1948, at Mar Del Plata, Argentina. The officers this year were : President, Dr. Diego M. Argiiello ; vice-president, Dr. Roberto F. Pereira ; secretary, Dr. Juan L. Giambruni ; treasurer, Dr. Bruno Tosi. Mar Del Plata, Argentina's most famous and fashionable summer resort, is located on the coast 250 miles south of Buenos Aires. The meeting was held in the modern, air-conditioned auditorium of the Casino, or Kursaal, and most of those attending the congress lived at the beautiful Hermitage Hotel just across the street from the Casino. The entire week was devoted to the meeting. On Monday morning the formal inaugural ceremonies were held at which time a cordial welcome was extended by the president of the congress, by federal and municipal officers, and by the titular professors of ophthalmology at the various uni-