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History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

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CHAPTER XIIOPHTHALMOLOGYBy WILLIAM A. MANN, M.D. *THEyear 1850 is probably the most significant date <strong>in</strong> ophthalmology,as <strong>in</strong> that year the gifted German, von Helmholz, <strong>in</strong>vented the opthalmoscope.This opened the hitherto unexplored region <strong>of</strong> the <strong>in</strong>terior <strong>of</strong> theliv<strong>in</strong>g eye to exact study and diagnosis, and elevated ophthalmology fromitsformer unscientific and empirical status to a new and flourish<strong>in</strong>g specialty,dest<strong>in</strong>ed for excit<strong>in</strong>g and important advances <strong>in</strong> the fifty years between1850 and 1900.Rise <strong>of</strong> Ophthalmology <strong>in</strong> Ill<strong>in</strong>oisIt cannot be said that many great ophthalmological discoveries orig<strong>in</strong>ated<strong>in</strong> Ill<strong>in</strong>ois <strong>in</strong> the 1850-1900 period, but it is <strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g to note howquickly advances made elsewhere were recognized and adopted here. Thiscame about not only through careful study <strong>of</strong> the literature, but throughfrequent trips to other centers <strong>in</strong> America and especially <strong>in</strong> Europe. Midwestmedic<strong>in</strong>e was conscious <strong>of</strong> its deficiencies and sought to remedy themby European study.Dr. Samuel Gross reported to the First International Ophthalmic Conference<strong>in</strong> Brussels <strong>in</strong>1857 that, <strong>in</strong> the <strong>in</strong>terior <strong>of</strong> the United States, eyediseases were neglected or treated by quacks. About this period, however,Dr. Edward L. Holmes, tra<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> ophthalmology and otology, was attractedto Chicago, decided to locate there, and from that time on, ophthalmologybegan to have a firm foot<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the State <strong>of</strong> Ill<strong>in</strong>ois. Dr.Holmes, qualified and energetic as he was, may be said to be the ophthalmicpioneer who blazed the trail for future generations, especially <strong>in</strong> theMiddle West.The progress <strong>of</strong> ophthalmology <strong>in</strong> Ill<strong>in</strong>ois may be followed through thetransactions <strong>of</strong> the Ill<strong>in</strong>ois State Medical <strong>Society</strong>. Indeed, this becomes thepr<strong>in</strong>cipal source <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>formation as to the nature <strong>of</strong> ophthalmic <strong>practice</strong> forthe entire period, s<strong>in</strong>ce records <strong>of</strong> the meet<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>of</strong> the Chicago Ophthalmological<strong>Society</strong> prior to 1900 have been lost. At the meet<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>of</strong> the• Dr. Mann is a well-known practitioner and consultant <strong>in</strong> ophthalmology <strong>in</strong> Chicago.He has taken a keen <strong>in</strong>terest <strong>in</strong> the history <strong>of</strong> his specialty and is an active member <strong>of</strong>the Committee on Medical <strong>History</strong> <strong>of</strong> the Ill<strong>in</strong>ois State Medical <strong>Society</strong>. He is a graduate<strong>of</strong> the University <strong>of</strong> Ill<strong>in</strong>ois College <strong>of</strong> Medic<strong>in</strong>e and at present is on the faculty <strong>of</strong>Northwestern University Medical School.—Editor251

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