DEP/DUA/1/43/02 (Transcript version)

Thomas Stevenson

(1787-1788)

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N^o36. Thomas Stevenson at 25

Disease of this patient consists entirely in dimin of vision.

And that too without any obv. affect of extern parts of eye.

Even on [illegible] inspect no very consid manif disease.

While at same time pupil [retain] very consid power of dilat & contract

From this however led to concl. that not the effect of insensib in opt nerve, or extrem.

For in that case no contract of the pupil on expos to light.

And on more minute exam of eye app. that internally has not usual transpar.

That crystal lens of whiter colour than natural.

Or in other words that there takes place what among ancients in opps to Gutta serena had name of Gutta opaca.

Among more mod practit this known under diff appellat.

But partic under that of Cataracta

In syst of Sauv & other nosol. this divided into various gener. species.

But that of our patient an exam of the Cataracta vera of Sauv.

Dr Cullen anxious to reduce No of genera has referd Cataracra to [more] extens genus of Caligo.

Including all dimin & loss of vision, from any opacity in eye itself.

And accord to his syst is an ex of the Caligo Lentis.

And But whatever name may give it, is evid a disease, where dimin of vision the conseq of morbid condit in the crystal lens.

An affect by no means uncom. And even in most adv. stages often admitting of compl. & perf. cure.

In these circum however, only to be brought about by chirur. operat.

And by this means, the diseased crystall. sometimes compl. exhausted sometimes depressd.

In this latter case, soon disapp. from being dissolvd in Aq. humour.

And accord. many disp. to pref. it as being easiest operat.

But entirely foreign to our businss to say anything as to compar adv of operat.

And in case of pres patient, yet in an incip state, not in condit for operat.

With resp to progn therfore, only quest is, how far remov. by othr means.

Of this must acknowl. am [extr] doubtful.

Can only I apprh be effected in conseq of compl absorb of dis par

And this while very uncert can only be lookd for in slow & grad mann.

Have however no doubt that abs. from every part of body even hard bones.

And that by due encr of [action] may carry off any part.

Is with view to such encr. that am here empl. electric.

But of mode of operat as well as effects resulting from it, reserve observ.