History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

Ophthalmology 255tee on Ophthalmology Dr. Hildreth and Dr. Samuel Jones, both of Chicago.His report for that year covered his personal experiences over thepreceding thirteen year period, during which time he had observed 7437eye cases, of which 4292 were charity and 3145 were private patients.In 1870, Dr. Hildreth was listed as chairman of the committee but gaveno report. Dr. Holmes had prepared a report on conjunctivitis of infants,recommending the use of 2 to 4 per cent silver nitrate applied with acamel's hair brush to the conjunctiva once or twice a day. Frequent cleansingwith tepid water was recommended. He considered most cases to besimply catarrhal conjunctivitis, but infection from the leukorrheal orgonorrheal discharge in the vagina of the mother was recognized.The committee in 1871 was composed of Drs. Holmes, H. H. Roman ofSpringfield and J. P. Johnson of Peoria. As usual it was Dr. Holmes whogave the report, this time a statistical study on cataract. During fourteenyears he had operated upon a total of 46 cataracts, in 40 of which he hadobtained good results. All but one of the unfavorable results were due toiritis, and in that one there was a "fearful suppurative iridochoroiditis."Considerable vitreous was lost in 3 cases, and 13 required a subsequent removalof retained capsule. It is interesting to note that Dr. Holmes, theleading ophthalmologist in Illinois, had performed an average of less thanfour cataract extractions a year and that, even without the advantage ofaseptic surgery, antibiotics and sutures, his results were fairly satisfactory.In 1872, Dr. F. C. Hotz of Chicago gave a paper on "Quinine as a LocalRemedy for Vascular Cornea." It was recommended that the drug be usedin "granular ophthalmia" (trachoma), dusted over the conjunctival surfaceof the lids twice a day with the favorite camel's hair brush. He felt thatthe effect upon the cornea (pannus) was good but that it had little effectupon the granulated lids. Dr. Hotz was at that time a second Vice-Presidentof the Society and a member of the Committee on Ophthalmology togetherwith Drs. Holmes, Johnson and H. W. Boyd of Chicago who was chairman.Dr. Boyd did not give a report at this meeting, but the indefatigable Dr.Holmes did not fail ophthalmology. He gave a report on the treatmentof iritis, emphasizing the use of atropine and warning of its local and centraleffects in susceptible individuals. Dr. Holmes also reported a case oforbital aneurysm cured by injecting iron persulfate deep into the orbit"and probably fairly deep into the aneurysmal sack, since the symptomssubsided at once."At the 1873 meeting there were two ophthalmic papers. Dr. Holmes reportedon "Intraocular Tumors," discussing sarcoma of the iris andchoroid, cysts of the iris, one "rare iris tumor," and "glioma," which hestated invariably reappeared in the orbit after extirpation of the eve. Dr.Hotz gave a paper on the use of strychnia in amaurosis and concluded that