On the cure of squinting, by the division of one of the straight muscles of the eye, &c. &c. &c. : being the half-yearly report laid before the Governors of the Royal Westminster Ophthalmic Hospital, Charing Cross, at their general meeting on the 25th July, 1840 / by Charles W.G. Guthrie.

  • Guthrie, Charles W. Gardiner, 1817-1859.
Date:
1840
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the cure of squinting, by the division of one of the straight muscles of the eye, &c. &c. &c. : being the half-yearly report laid before the Governors of the Royal Westminster Ophthalmic Hospital, Charing Cross, at their general meeting on the 25th July, 1840 / by Charles W.G. Guthrie. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    whilst a small projection or growth takes place from the sub-conjunctival cellular membrane, which requires to be touched from time to time by the sulphate of copper, or the nitrate of silver, or even to be cut off with the curved scissors. The inner part of the eye is bloodshot occasionally for some days. The operation is but a trivial one, and is not apparently very painful. Mr. S„ the oriental traveller, says he was more frightened than hurt by it. The operation on the external rectus muscle is, if anything, more easily done than on the internal muscle. James Maldhouse, aged 22, residing at 17, St. Martin’s Lane, began to squint at two years old with both eyes, in consequence of fits under which he still occasionally labours, one eye always turning out when the other is directed at any particular object; this occurs to both eyes although he thinks he can see best with the right one. Last Christmas he had the misfortune to be scalded in tbe face, and the right half of his mouth was allowed to grow up, so that he eat with difficulty and had altogether a very odd appearance. Being most anxious to be relieved from the defor- mity of his mouth, Mr. Guthrie made a new half to it, by dividing the parts which had united, and then bringing the inner membrane outwards and keeping it in that situation. In consequence of the success of this operation, he was induced to allow the external rectus of the left eye to be divided, when he immediately looked straight with that eye, and so much more so with the other, that his mother scarcely knew' him. As it did not how'ever become quite straight, he wished to have the operation performed on it also, which I have done, using only the elevator and scissors without the hook or director, and I could have dispensed even with the elevator. He now sees straight with both eyes. When the assistant has been accustomed to raise the lid with the fore- finger, and knows how to do it, the silver elevator may be dispensed with in an adult, but the operation is most easily done with the elevator, hook, and director : and as it can be done in half a minute with perfect safety, w’ith little pain, and without fear of any evil consequences, I do not know what more can be desired. The most extraordinary case I have met with is that of Elizabeth Burford, 14 years of age, a tall and rather good-looking girl, now in the Hos- pital. She came from a village beyond Tonbridge, nearly blind with cataracts and squinting horribly with both eyes, both of which complants were perceived at five months old. On the right eye being operated upon, the pupil became rather everted, as if the external rectus acted vigorously. The left eye was so determinedly turned inwards, that the edge of the cornea or bright part of the eye could alone be seen, and she had no power over it. Under these circumstances it became necessary to fix a hook into the