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Harald G. A. Gjessing. Kliniske Linsestudier
CORRESPONDENCE
August, 1820, "The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary" commenced the great and beneficent work which it continues to carry on at the present time. In 1816 Dr. Edward Reynolds came from Boston, Mass., to. London to pursue his medical studies. He attended the practice and lectures at this Hospital under Mr. Benjamin Travers and Sir William Lawrence. On his return home he found his father blind from . cataract in both eyes. With rare cour. age, fortified by his recent experience in London, he decided to operate. Happily the operation proved a complete success. It had never been undertaken m Boston before. It led to the foundation of Dr. Reynold's reputation as the leading surgeon in diseases of the eye, and to the foundation in 1824 of T h e Massachusetts Charitable Eye and E a r Infirmary," which still exists as a center of light and leading. Ever since these fathers of ophthalmology in the United States came to study at this Hospital there has been a continuous succession of American medical men working in its wards, its operation theater, its out-patient department, and its laboratories. Nurses like medical men, who are engaged in the treatment of diseases of the eye require special training beyond tnat which is provided for them in their ordinary curriculum. Moorfields Hospital aims not only at supplying all that is required for training ophthalmologists but also in supplying suitable training for ophthalmic nurses. Many nurses who have received such training a t this Hospital have gone from it to take up similar work in various parts of the British Empire and America. Immense progress has been made in ophthalmology since the Hospital was nrst established, and much of this has been effected by the researches of the many distinguished surgeons who have served on its staff. . Many further advances are ripe for investigation in several different directions, but can only be carried out if the necessary means are forthcoming. Work such as this benefits not only one eiass, one community, or one nationall y , but the whole human race.
709
Moorefields Hospital feels that, in view of what it has already accomplished and what it is striving to do in the future, it is justified in appealing for the necessary funds not only to the British but also to the American public. It asks then for a contribution toward a fund of £100,000 for the following purposes: ( a ) . To enable it to extend its laboratory accommodation for purposes of clinical and pathologic research. (b). To supply adequately paid assistance to the Honorary Medical Staff, which will liberate them from much of the routine work which they now have to perform, and allow of them devoting more of their time to clinical instruction and research for which they are so eminently qualified. (c). To supply adequate accommodation for the nursing staff, not only those who carry on the general work of the Hospital, but also those desirous of obtaining a special training in the nursing of cases of diseases of the eye. PRINCE ARTHUR OF CONNAUGHT,
President of the Hospital.
BOOK NOTICES. Harald G. A. Gjessing. Kliniske Linsestudier. Paper, 8 vo., pp. 356, with tables and 12 charts. Drammen, Norway. 1920. This book, published as a supplement to the Norsk Magazin for Laegevidenskaben, may be of iittie direct value to those of us who cannot read the Norwegian-Danish language. But in some measure it illustrates an investigation that can be carried on in any part of the world; and must be joined in by many workers before its object can be attained. Gjessing begins and ends by quoting from Le Grand Nichol (1574) "Non ergo credo omnium suffusionum est eadem causa," hinting the wide etiology of cataract. And with this he joins the recent statement of Roemer (1913), that "today is the true cause of the development of senile cataract unknown." T o the solution of the unsolved problem he
710
BOOK NOTICES
had applied a large amount of observation, especially with the aid of the Gullstrand lamp and the corneal microscope. After describing methods of examination, including use of red-free light, the normal lens after 15 years of age is discussed, and then the lens after birth until 15 years. Then the pathologic anatomy of the lens, and the more important theories of cataract are given, toxic, chorioretinal, action of light, heredity, the internal secretions, tetany, and finally the Hess-Roemer theory of cataract. After this in tabular form are arranged what are supposed to be the important collateral facts bearing on the condition of 4,768 eyes of 2,411 persons. T h e cases are arranged in five year groups beginning with 6 to 10 years; of blue eyed males, blue eyed females, brown eyed males and brown eyed females. The facts noted are arranged in 9 columns giving: (1) Age and name. (2) Race relations or family history. (3) General conditions supposed to have influence. (4) Special observations on other parts of the eye. (5) Vision and refraction. (6) Condition of the lens nucleus. (7) Description of variety of cataract. (8) Localization of the opacity. (9) Remarks. This tabulation of observations occupies 180 pages. It is followed by a consideration of the various agencies related to the condition in the different periods; and special analysis as to certain things like the refraction, the localization of the opacities, family history, etc. The volume concludes with an appendix on tonometry, a resume, and list of available literature including 405 titles to papers supposed to bear on the subject, of which 18 appeared in Great Britain and 4 in America. Evidently only the Scandinavian and German literature are familiar to the author. E. J. Fifth Annual Report, 1917, Ophthalmic Section, Department of Public Health. Egypt. Quarto, pp. 24. 3 charts and 20 tables. Cairo, Government Press, 1919. This pamphlet, prepared by the Di-
rector of Ophthalmic Hospitals in Egypt, Dr. A. F. MacCallan, reports the work done at 13 permanent and 4 traveling hospitals during the year 1917. There were 81,529 new patients treated, and for these 59,581 operations were done. The attendances of outpatients numbered 1,004,161. Altho these pages are about twice the size of those of an ordinary medical book, we know of no work of the kind in which such valuable information is so closely packed. The large page offers a favorable means for presenting tables and charts, which give statistical facts in most condensed form. Each of these tables is valuable. For instance, the first, which is one of the smaller ones, gives the patients coming on account of acute conjunctivitis, a total of 12,642 arranged according to diagnosis under 10 heads. Another of the smaller tables (table X I ) deals with the incidence of primary glaucoma. Of" these there were 9,686 cases for whom were done 2,924 operations. For trichiasis and entropion, the operations done numbered 30,200, not including epilations and electrolysis for destruction of lashes. The report ends with an appendix giving the annual publications of the "Ophthalmic Section," and telling if they are available. W e shall have occasion to use from time to time some of the material here assembled. The report as a. whole challenges attention to the possibilities of Egypt as a training ground for certain kinds of operations. It is interesting to note among the activities of the Ophthalmic Section, the giving of a complete course of postgraduate lectures on ophthalmology, including pathologic and bacteriologic demonstrations and laboratory work. E. J. Tractus de Conservatione Sanitatias Oculorum. Johannis de Lasso. Octavo, 10 pages. Figueras, Spain. F. Cusi. This treatise on the hygiene of the eye was written by Doctor de Lasso of Florence in July, 1346. From copies of the Latin manuscript, found in the
August, 1820, "The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary" commenced the great and beneficent work which it continues to carry on at the present time. In 1816 Dr. Edward Reynolds came from Boston, Mass., to. London to pursue his medical studies. He attended the practice and lectures at this Hospital under Mr. Benjamin Travers and Sir William Lawrence. On his return home he found his father blind from . cataract in both eyes. With rare cour. age, fortified by his recent experience in London, he decided to operate. Happily the operation proved a complete success. It had never been undertaken m Boston before. It led to the foundation of Dr. Reynold's reputation as the leading surgeon in diseases of the eye, and to the foundation in 1824 of T h e Massachusetts Charitable Eye and E a r Infirmary," which still exists as a center of light and leading. Ever since these fathers of ophthalmology in the United States came to study at this Hospital there has been a continuous succession of American medical men working in its wards, its operation theater, its out-patient department, and its laboratories. Nurses like medical men, who are engaged in the treatment of diseases of the eye require special training beyond tnat which is provided for them in their ordinary curriculum. Moorfields Hospital aims not only at supplying all that is required for training ophthalmologists but also in supplying suitable training for ophthalmic nurses. Many nurses who have received such training a t this Hospital have gone from it to take up similar work in various parts of the British Empire and America. Immense progress has been made in ophthalmology since the Hospital was nrst established, and much of this has been effected by the researches of the many distinguished surgeons who have served on its staff. . Many further advances are ripe for investigation in several different directions, but can only be carried out if the necessary means are forthcoming. Work such as this benefits not only one eiass, one community, or one nationall y , but the whole human race.
709
Moorefields Hospital feels that, in view of what it has already accomplished and what it is striving to do in the future, it is justified in appealing for the necessary funds not only to the British but also to the American public. It asks then for a contribution toward a fund of £100,000 for the following purposes: ( a ) . To enable it to extend its laboratory accommodation for purposes of clinical and pathologic research. (b). To supply adequately paid assistance to the Honorary Medical Staff, which will liberate them from much of the routine work which they now have to perform, and allow of them devoting more of their time to clinical instruction and research for which they are so eminently qualified. (c). To supply adequate accommodation for the nursing staff, not only those who carry on the general work of the Hospital, but also those desirous of obtaining a special training in the nursing of cases of diseases of the eye. PRINCE ARTHUR OF CONNAUGHT,
President of the Hospital.
BOOK NOTICES. Harald G. A. Gjessing. Kliniske Linsestudier. Paper, 8 vo., pp. 356, with tables and 12 charts. Drammen, Norway. 1920. This book, published as a supplement to the Norsk Magazin for Laegevidenskaben, may be of iittie direct value to those of us who cannot read the Norwegian-Danish language. But in some measure it illustrates an investigation that can be carried on in any part of the world; and must be joined in by many workers before its object can be attained. Gjessing begins and ends by quoting from Le Grand Nichol (1574) "Non ergo credo omnium suffusionum est eadem causa," hinting the wide etiology of cataract. And with this he joins the recent statement of Roemer (1913), that "today is the true cause of the development of senile cataract unknown." T o the solution of the unsolved problem he
710
BOOK NOTICES
had applied a large amount of observation, especially with the aid of the Gullstrand lamp and the corneal microscope. After describing methods of examination, including use of red-free light, the normal lens after 15 years of age is discussed, and then the lens after birth until 15 years. Then the pathologic anatomy of the lens, and the more important theories of cataract are given, toxic, chorioretinal, action of light, heredity, the internal secretions, tetany, and finally the Hess-Roemer theory of cataract. After this in tabular form are arranged what are supposed to be the important collateral facts bearing on the condition of 4,768 eyes of 2,411 persons. T h e cases are arranged in five year groups beginning with 6 to 10 years; of blue eyed males, blue eyed females, brown eyed males and brown eyed females. The facts noted are arranged in 9 columns giving: (1) Age and name. (2) Race relations or family history. (3) General conditions supposed to have influence. (4) Special observations on other parts of the eye. (5) Vision and refraction. (6) Condition of the lens nucleus. (7) Description of variety of cataract. (8) Localization of the opacity. (9) Remarks. This tabulation of observations occupies 180 pages. It is followed by a consideration of the various agencies related to the condition in the different periods; and special analysis as to certain things like the refraction, the localization of the opacities, family history, etc. The volume concludes with an appendix on tonometry, a resume, and list of available literature including 405 titles to papers supposed to bear on the subject, of which 18 appeared in Great Britain and 4 in America. Evidently only the Scandinavian and German literature are familiar to the author. E. J. Fifth Annual Report, 1917, Ophthalmic Section, Department of Public Health. Egypt. Quarto, pp. 24. 3 charts and 20 tables. Cairo, Government Press, 1919. This pamphlet, prepared by the Di-
rector of Ophthalmic Hospitals in Egypt, Dr. A. F. MacCallan, reports the work done at 13 permanent and 4 traveling hospitals during the year 1917. There were 81,529 new patients treated, and for these 59,581 operations were done. The attendances of outpatients numbered 1,004,161. Altho these pages are about twice the size of those of an ordinary medical book, we know of no work of the kind in which such valuable information is so closely packed. The large page offers a favorable means for presenting tables and charts, which give statistical facts in most condensed form. Each of these tables is valuable. For instance, the first, which is one of the smaller ones, gives the patients coming on account of acute conjunctivitis, a total of 12,642 arranged according to diagnosis under 10 heads. Another of the smaller tables (table X I ) deals with the incidence of primary glaucoma. Of" these there were 9,686 cases for whom were done 2,924 operations. For trichiasis and entropion, the operations done numbered 30,200, not including epilations and electrolysis for destruction of lashes. The report ends with an appendix giving the annual publications of the "Ophthalmic Section," and telling if they are available. W e shall have occasion to use from time to time some of the material here assembled. The report as a. whole challenges attention to the possibilities of Egypt as a training ground for certain kinds of operations. It is interesting to note among the activities of the Ophthalmic Section, the giving of a complete course of postgraduate lectures on ophthalmology, including pathologic and bacteriologic demonstrations and laboratory work. E. J. Tractus de Conservatione Sanitatias Oculorum. Johannis de Lasso. Octavo, 10 pages. Figueras, Spain. F. Cusi. This treatise on the hygiene of the eye was written by Doctor de Lasso of Florence in July, 1346. From copies of the Latin manuscript, found in the