The practical details of cataract extraction / by H. Herbert.

  • Herbert, H.
Date:
1903
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The practical details of cataract extraction / by H. Herbert. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    CHAPTER III DISCUSSION OF OPERATIVE TECHNIQUE AND OF ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURES Antisepsis—The Corneal Section—Preliminary Iridectomy—The ‘ Simple ’ Operation, without Iridectomy—Capsulotomy—The Evacuation of Cortex—Over-ripe Cataracts—The Open Treat- ment of Wounds. ANTISEPSIS by irrigation with antiseptic fluids is rather out of fashion at the present moment. It has been shown that immediately after the use of these solutions the conjunctival sac may be by no means freed of living bacteria, and the reduction in their numbers may be scarcely greater than can be effected by mechanical cleansing with normal saline. Hence the conclusion that antiseptics are useless and harmful, because irritating—a conclusion which conflicts with the slowly accumulating, but as yet ill - formulated and dis- jointed clinical evidence of the value of antiseptics in reducing the number of grave infections after operations. The fallacy lies in overlooking the detail that a little time is required for the action of the antiseptic solutions; they do not ordinarily kill the micro-organisms, but assist in their removal. Strong perchloride, in virtue of its irritating and coagulating properties, produces in normal and nearly normal membranes a rapid secretion of mucus, with shedding of the superficial epithelium, so