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Entwicklung der Augenheilkunde im 18. und 19. Jahrhundert the Development of Ophthalmology in the 18th and 19th Centuries
OBITUARIES
ered. To enumerate in detail the sub jects would require far too much space but mention of the seven principal di visions gives a clue to the compre hensiveness of this book. These are: Blindness and possibilities of its pre vention. General condition of the blind. Provision for education of blind chil dren. Intellectual provision for adult blind. Material provision for blind. Or ganizations interested in blind. Conclu sions with respect to work for blind. Practically any question of material nature regarding the blind has been an swered. An enormous number of refer ences are given in connection with every chapter. The book is beautifully written and printed. Aside from its outstanding value as a book of reference it is also extremely interesting reading. Lawrence T. Post. Dvorine, Animated fusion training charts. Issued by Animated Fusion Training Charts Company. Balti more. Price $10.00. This set contains seven groups of cards arranged progressively for the de velopment of fusion. The unusual fea ture is the incorporation in groups " B " and " C " of a disc containing pictures which can be rotated in front of an open ing before either eye. The purpose of this is to increase the interest of the pa tient and to hold the attention. The pic tures in general are attractive being in bright colors. The least satisfactory part of this set is the fusion group as dependence is placed rather largely on the ability of the patient to read, while the major part of the ophthalmologist's fusion training is done with children who are either un able to read or are too young to be greatly interested in it. Lawrence T. Post. Entwicklung der Augenheilkunde im 18. und 19. Jahrhundert (The develop ment of ophthalmology in the 18th and 19th centuries). By Alfred Bader. Basel, Benno Schwabe & Co., 1933. 231 pp., 34 illustrations, 10 facsimiles, and 3 tables. France was the cradle of the impor tant renaissance of ophthalmology in
361
the 18th century. Great progress in this science proceeded from the correct teaching there on cataract (Brisseau) and later on the method of its extraction (Daviel). Under the influence of Boerhaave in Leyden, ophthalmologic centers were set up in Gottingen (Heister, v. Haller, and later Richter) ; in Tubingen (Platner, Mauchart, Sigw a r t ) ; and in Vienna (Barth, Beer). Through these the relationship between medicine and ophthalmology, then and until much later a branch of surgery, be came more firmly established toward the end of the 18th century. The strug gle to emancipate ophthalmology as a special science was fought in each of the various European clinics. But the true growth of the fledgling science is implicit in the letters that fill 131 pages of this book, most of them ad dressed to Horner, signed by all the il lustrious names in ophthalmology of the day, by v. Graefe, Arlt, Dufour, Kronlein, Zehender, Leber, Knapp, Laquer, Landolt, His, Duke Carl Theodor of Bavaria, Helmholtz and many others. Through them intimate glimpses into the personalities and lives of the writers are obtained, some of whom were equally great as men and ophthalmolo gists. E. S. Buss.
OBITUARIES Ernest Edmund Maddox 1863-1933 Dr. Maddox died at his home in Bournemouth, on the south coast of England, November 4, 1933. H e was born and grew up amid the meadows and hills of Oxfordshire. For his medical education he went to Edinburgh, where he graduated from the University, M.B., in 1882, and M.D., in 1889. As a student he gained distinction, and won the Syme Surgical Fellowship, by his essay on the "Convergence and accommodation of the eyes." Choosing Ophthalmology, he was made Assistant Ophthalmological Surgeon in the Royal Infirmary, and a University Instructor. He soon became known as a teacher and writer. In 1899 he received the Middlemore Prize for his book on "Tests and studies of the ocular muscles."
362
OBITUARIES
At this time the teachings of Duane, the claims of Stevens, and the theories of Savage had awakened in America a wide interest in the less known dis orders of ocular movements. The tests proposed by Maddox soon demon strated they had practical value; and the simplest of them, the Maddox Rod test, gradually became the most valued test for latent squint, or heterophoria, re lied on by ophthalmologists all over the world. It proved a permanent contribu tion to our diagnostic resources. In 1894 Maddox gained his Fellow ship in the Royal College of Surgeons, of Edinburgh. In 1899 he became the Ophthalmic Surgeon to the Royal Vic toria and West Hants Hospital, at Bournemouth. There his work was chiefly done, to the end of his life. The change of location removed him from the personal teaching of graduate stu dents, but left him the wider field of teaching through his writings. This favored the thoughtful working out of his practical ideas. It also made it easy for him to attend the Society meetings in London and Oxford. It is through his writings that Dr. Maddox is most widely known, and has exerted his principal influence. In July 1894 he contributed an article to the American Journal of Medical Sciences on "The ophthalmoscopic corneal images, and their value in the diagnosis of the exact direction of the fixation of the eyes." The direction of the corneal axis had been chiefly a matter of aca demic interest. But he showed the prac tical usefulness of knowing the point on which the rays fell from the ophthal moscopic mirror to be reflected to the observer's eye. Every subject Maddox studied and discussed was viewed from the practical standpoint. This gave the general interest to all he wrote about the ocular muscles and movements, from his first prize essay to his suggestion of the cheiroscope. The literature that grew up with re gard to the ocular muscles was enor mous, and in that literature the writings of Maddox were pre-eminent for prac tical sense and originality. His book on the "Clinical use of prisms and the decentering of lenses," first published in 1889, reached a fifth edition. His
"Golden rules of refraction," a little vest pocket manual, was packed with good sense, and was the first European pub lication to mention the practical use of the cross cylinder. By those familiar with his work, Mad dox was regarded as an extremely care ful and skillful operator. Many have re marked on the possibility of changing the refraction of the eye by operation on the cornea. Maddox reported cases in which he had successfully done corneal section for high astigmatism, myopia and conical cornea. These were recorded in brief notes, without any suggestion that they were of general importance. (Ophth. Rev. v. 12, p. 36.) For conical cornea he covered the incisions with a conjunctival flap. Maddox was extremely modest and disposed to avoid public notice. When he attended the 1906 meeting of the British Medical Association in Toronto, many who daily used his rod test did not know that he was there. But the practical value of his scientific work gradually forced his recognition. In 1929 he was made Vice-President, and in 1931 President of the British Medical Association. In 1924 his address on "Heterophoria," before the Oxford Con gress, brought him the Doyne Medal. He had kept in full measure the respect of those who knew him. As stated by the writer of his obituary notice in the Brit ish Medical Journal, "He lived what he believed." Edward Jackson. John Bowring Lawford 1858-1934 J. B. Lawford was born in Montreal, Canada, and was educated there. He re ceived his medical degree from McGill University in 1879. At McGill, Frank Buller was teaching ophthalmology. He had studied in London, and had served as House Physician at Moorfields. After receiving his M.D., Lawford went to London, took the membership examina tion of the Royal College of Surgeons, and six years later gained the F.R.C.S., England. When Lawford went to London, he entered St. Thomas Hospital, and came under the teaching of Edward Nettleship. In 1886 he became assistant Oph-
ered. To enumerate in detail the sub jects would require far too much space but mention of the seven principal di visions gives a clue to the compre hensiveness of this book. These are: Blindness and possibilities of its pre vention. General condition of the blind. Provision for education of blind chil dren. Intellectual provision for adult blind. Material provision for blind. Or ganizations interested in blind. Conclu sions with respect to work for blind. Practically any question of material nature regarding the blind has been an swered. An enormous number of refer ences are given in connection with every chapter. The book is beautifully written and printed. Aside from its outstanding value as a book of reference it is also extremely interesting reading. Lawrence T. Post. Dvorine, Animated fusion training charts. Issued by Animated Fusion Training Charts Company. Balti more. Price $10.00. This set contains seven groups of cards arranged progressively for the de velopment of fusion. The unusual fea ture is the incorporation in groups " B " and " C " of a disc containing pictures which can be rotated in front of an open ing before either eye. The purpose of this is to increase the interest of the pa tient and to hold the attention. The pic tures in general are attractive being in bright colors. The least satisfactory part of this set is the fusion group as dependence is placed rather largely on the ability of the patient to read, while the major part of the ophthalmologist's fusion training is done with children who are either un able to read or are too young to be greatly interested in it. Lawrence T. Post. Entwicklung der Augenheilkunde im 18. und 19. Jahrhundert (The develop ment of ophthalmology in the 18th and 19th centuries). By Alfred Bader. Basel, Benno Schwabe & Co., 1933. 231 pp., 34 illustrations, 10 facsimiles, and 3 tables. France was the cradle of the impor tant renaissance of ophthalmology in
361
the 18th century. Great progress in this science proceeded from the correct teaching there on cataract (Brisseau) and later on the method of its extraction (Daviel). Under the influence of Boerhaave in Leyden, ophthalmologic centers were set up in Gottingen (Heister, v. Haller, and later Richter) ; in Tubingen (Platner, Mauchart, Sigw a r t ) ; and in Vienna (Barth, Beer). Through these the relationship between medicine and ophthalmology, then and until much later a branch of surgery, be came more firmly established toward the end of the 18th century. The strug gle to emancipate ophthalmology as a special science was fought in each of the various European clinics. But the true growth of the fledgling science is implicit in the letters that fill 131 pages of this book, most of them ad dressed to Horner, signed by all the il lustrious names in ophthalmology of the day, by v. Graefe, Arlt, Dufour, Kronlein, Zehender, Leber, Knapp, Laquer, Landolt, His, Duke Carl Theodor of Bavaria, Helmholtz and many others. Through them intimate glimpses into the personalities and lives of the writers are obtained, some of whom were equally great as men and ophthalmolo gists. E. S. Buss.
OBITUARIES Ernest Edmund Maddox 1863-1933 Dr. Maddox died at his home in Bournemouth, on the south coast of England, November 4, 1933. H e was born and grew up amid the meadows and hills of Oxfordshire. For his medical education he went to Edinburgh, where he graduated from the University, M.B., in 1882, and M.D., in 1889. As a student he gained distinction, and won the Syme Surgical Fellowship, by his essay on the "Convergence and accommodation of the eyes." Choosing Ophthalmology, he was made Assistant Ophthalmological Surgeon in the Royal Infirmary, and a University Instructor. He soon became known as a teacher and writer. In 1899 he received the Middlemore Prize for his book on "Tests and studies of the ocular muscles."
362
OBITUARIES
At this time the teachings of Duane, the claims of Stevens, and the theories of Savage had awakened in America a wide interest in the less known dis orders of ocular movements. The tests proposed by Maddox soon demon strated they had practical value; and the simplest of them, the Maddox Rod test, gradually became the most valued test for latent squint, or heterophoria, re lied on by ophthalmologists all over the world. It proved a permanent contribu tion to our diagnostic resources. In 1894 Maddox gained his Fellow ship in the Royal College of Surgeons, of Edinburgh. In 1899 he became the Ophthalmic Surgeon to the Royal Vic toria and West Hants Hospital, at Bournemouth. There his work was chiefly done, to the end of his life. The change of location removed him from the personal teaching of graduate stu dents, but left him the wider field of teaching through his writings. This favored the thoughtful working out of his practical ideas. It also made it easy for him to attend the Society meetings in London and Oxford. It is through his writings that Dr. Maddox is most widely known, and has exerted his principal influence. In July 1894 he contributed an article to the American Journal of Medical Sciences on "The ophthalmoscopic corneal images, and their value in the diagnosis of the exact direction of the fixation of the eyes." The direction of the corneal axis had been chiefly a matter of aca demic interest. But he showed the prac tical usefulness of knowing the point on which the rays fell from the ophthal moscopic mirror to be reflected to the observer's eye. Every subject Maddox studied and discussed was viewed from the practical standpoint. This gave the general interest to all he wrote about the ocular muscles and movements, from his first prize essay to his suggestion of the cheiroscope. The literature that grew up with re gard to the ocular muscles was enor mous, and in that literature the writings of Maddox were pre-eminent for prac tical sense and originality. His book on the "Clinical use of prisms and the decentering of lenses," first published in 1889, reached a fifth edition. His
"Golden rules of refraction," a little vest pocket manual, was packed with good sense, and was the first European pub lication to mention the practical use of the cross cylinder. By those familiar with his work, Mad dox was regarded as an extremely care ful and skillful operator. Many have re marked on the possibility of changing the refraction of the eye by operation on the cornea. Maddox reported cases in which he had successfully done corneal section for high astigmatism, myopia and conical cornea. These were recorded in brief notes, without any suggestion that they were of general importance. (Ophth. Rev. v. 12, p. 36.) For conical cornea he covered the incisions with a conjunctival flap. Maddox was extremely modest and disposed to avoid public notice. When he attended the 1906 meeting of the British Medical Association in Toronto, many who daily used his rod test did not know that he was there. But the practical value of his scientific work gradually forced his recognition. In 1929 he was made Vice-President, and in 1931 President of the British Medical Association. In 1924 his address on "Heterophoria," before the Oxford Con gress, brought him the Doyne Medal. He had kept in full measure the respect of those who knew him. As stated by the writer of his obituary notice in the Brit ish Medical Journal, "He lived what he believed." Edward Jackson. John Bowring Lawford 1858-1934 J. B. Lawford was born in Montreal, Canada, and was educated there. He re ceived his medical degree from McGill University in 1879. At McGill, Frank Buller was teaching ophthalmology. He had studied in London, and had served as House Physician at Moorfields. After receiving his M.D., Lawford went to London, took the membership examina tion of the Royal College of Surgeons, and six years later gained the F.R.C.S., England. When Lawford went to London, he entered St. Thomas Hospital, and came under the teaching of Edward Nettleship. In 1886 he became assistant Oph-