An account of a newly-discovered membrane in the human eye : to which are added, some objections to the common operation for fistula lacrymalis; and the suggestion of a new method of treating that disease / by S. Sawrey.

  • Sawrey, Solomon.
Date:
1807
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An account of a newly-discovered membrane in the human eye : to which are added, some objections to the common operation for fistula lacrymalis; and the suggestion of a new method of treating that disease / by S. Sawrey. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    the bony partition which separates the sac from the nose; imagining that the tears would maintain the opening thus made, after some extraneous body had been kept in for a short period. This is a very specious operation of surgery. It is an easy matter to talk of forming canals in the human body; but, I fear, a little experience will prove to us how abortive and unsuccessful the attempt is. Indeed, it is a branch of surgery, and no inconsiderable nor easy one, to open, and keep open, canals formed by nature, and to clear them from numerous obstructions. But how much more difficult must it be to keep open those which are formed by ant. If we look at the different canals in the human body, we shall find that it is not sufficient merely that they should be simply such; but, in order that they should be fitted to perform their respective functions, they, are supplied with, their respective lubricating fluids. This is either done by appropriate glands,.. situated in the neighbourhood, and pouring their secretions upon the internal membrane of the canal, or by the membrane itself secreting. The mouth and throat are. furnished with glands to secrete saliva and mucus, the better to fit them to convey food into the stomach, and to prevent acrid fluids abrading them. And in the lacrymal passages, there is mucus secreted, not only intended to lubricate and to keep them from closing,, but the better to fit and prepare them for conveying away the tears. If, then, a new canal beformed, which has to convey the tears into the nose, it, of course, will be destitute of parts or functions for the lubricative and de- fensive purposes. As we cannot suppose that a canal, formed by a long-conti- nued use of a leaden probe, would be possessed of an oeconomy for secreting ; the best we could imagine to happen, would be a hard callous one : hence it will be the more disposed to close. In vain is it to say, that the tears will preserve the new-formed canal.1—Can i we rationally expect it ? If it be a common accident for a passage to closer which is perfectly formed, and adapted by nature, in defiance of those tears, can we expect she will do more for the very imperfect and ill-adapted one formed by art ?;