ST. JOHN: Foreign Body in Anterior Chamber.

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fine circumcorneal injection and he complained of some pain. We found at the lower iris angle a small yellowish mass that seemed to push the iris before it like a curtain. The pupil was fully dilated by atropia, and by oblique illumination I could see a whitish mass on the posterior surface of the iris corresponding to the seat of the new growth. The case differed materially from what I had previously seen, and I may say I have seen a number of cases of sarcoma of the iris and am familiar with syphilitic growths and tubercles of the iris; it looked more like an exudate from the ciliary body which had pushed the iris upward, although the absence of inflammatory symptoms, showed that it could hardly be that. The boy had an eruption all over his body which a skin specialist pronounced to be scabies. I watched the case and saw the mass coming out more and more, and after two weeks concluded that it must be a malignant growth of some kind and advised that the eye, should be removed. The mother was so shocked that she left me and went to Dr. Gruening.

LARGE FOREIGN BODY IN ANTERIOR CHAMBER REMOVED WITH PRESERVATION OF PERFECT VISION, WITH PHOTOGRAPH OF FOREIGN BODY IN SITU. By S. B. ST. JOHN, M.D., HARTFORD, CONN.

I venture to bring before the society this case, because it seems to me to be unique in more than one respect, as to the size of the foreign body which entered the eye, the slight amount of irritation caused while it was present, the readiness with which it was extracted, the good vision which was subsequently preserved, and the fact that I was able to get a photograph of the foreign body in situ. I think it is the only photograph taken of a foreign body while in the eye (excluding radiographs). The fnan was sitting by the side of a comrade wlo was cutting off bicycle spokes, snipping off little pieces, which were OPH.- 23

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ST. JOHN: Foreign Body in Anterior Chamber.

flying in all directions, and with considerable force. A piece struck this man's eye, and penetrated at the sclero-corneal junction, and in such a direction as to pursue a course exactly parallel to the plane of the surface of the iris. The internal lips of the wound retained their hold upon the fragment at its external end, while the internal end, reaching nearly to the other side of the anterior chamber, was free. He came to the office, not because of any pain or discomfort, but because his friends told him there was something the matter with the eye. My assistant, Dr. Waite, thought it was an excellent chance to get a photograph of a foreign body while in the eye, as the polished steel gave such a beautiful reflection. The man was taken to a neighboring photographic establishment, and this excellent picture obtained. Upon passing a strong electro-magnet over the eye it was found that this foreign body, which was seven and one-half mm. in length and one and one-fourth mm. in diameter and of cylindrical shape, could be caused to travel across the pupil, but could not be withdrawn through the wound of entrance, because its end was pointed and sharp. I was, therefore, obliged to make a new wound of exit, and with the Graefe knife I made an opening in the bottom of the anterior chamber, and by introducing the point of the Hirschberg magnet it was easily turned and drawn out. There was no prolapse, nor reaction, and when the anterior chamber was restored it could not be made out that there was even any abrasion of the epithelium of the iris. The man made a perfect recovery, it being difficult to keep him in bed for the whole day, and in the house for two days, and he presented himself at my office with 20/2oths vision, and no visible lesion.

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ST. JOHN'S case of foreign body in anterior chamber.

Large foreign body in anterior chamber removed, with preservation of perfect vision, with photograph of the foreign body in situ.

Large foreign body in anterior chamber removed, with preservation of perfect vision, with photograph of the foreign body in situ. - PDF Download Free
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