SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT OF DISEASES OF THE EYE IN INDIA. THE Governor-in-Council at the Presidency of Bombay has published the following report of the success of Surgeon Richmond's treatment of diseases of the eye at Poona, which is highly deserving of general notice. The following tables are prefixed to the report: Abstract of Diseases of the Eye, treated at Poona by Surgical Operation, from the 6th of May to the 12th of December 1824. DISEASES. Restored Restored to good sight by operation, Total num-Restored to Total number of Cataracts, artificial Pu to good dence of the pa- ed to good useful sight pils, and Pte sight by tients inflamma- sight by by opera- rygiums successfully treated operation. 29 by Total successfully treated by surgical operation Restored to good sight by medical treatment ............ General total restored to sight ......... Abstract of Diseases of the Eye treated without Surgical Operation. DISEASES. .490 14 . 504 By referring to the table of diseases it will be perceived, that in the course of seven months and twelve days 479 cases of cataract have been successfully treated; nine cases of closed pupil, and two of pterygium have been VOL. XX. Asiatic Journ. No. 118. equally so by operation; and fourteen with diseased cornea have received good sight by medical treatment, which, when added together, will make a total number of 504 blind restored to sight. A great number of these patients on whom the operation for cataract has been performed, can read the figures of a watch without the aid of caractoric glasses; a medium which would nearly perfect their sight, if assisted by them. The number who are stated in the column of disease to enjoy but a small degree of vision, though already highly useful to them, would also be greatly benefited by the assistance of these glasses; because, in most of them, the imperfection of sight is owing to the flatness of the cornea, dependent on old Twenty-nine having lost their sight after it had been restored to them by operation, was on account of the patients not being under restraint, nor willing to submit to any kind of medical controul. Many who received sight in one instant rejoiced so exceedingly, that they became impatient of remaining a few days with their eyes bound up; and after they had left me, to enjoy the pleasure of light and the sight of their friends, uncovered their eyes, and admitted the strong beams of light on the retina, which had been for years secluded in darkness, and was consequently unable to withstand the first impressions of light without exciting inflammation. On comparing this loss with the general success of operations for cataract, it will be found that about one in twenty has come under this unhappy event. Though I have not the least reason to complain of the want of confidence of the natives, yet I find them unwilling to submit, in after treatment, to any painful remedy; for had these people subjected themselves to the ordinary means employed in averting inflammation, I am certain their sight would have been preserved. The inevitable and disadvantageous mode of operating practice pursued with the natives of India, from that pursued with Europeans, operates materially against the propitious result of practice; for after the operation is performed, they are allowed to go wherever they please, and to follow their own inclination. But to overcome these inconveniences, and to prevent succeeding inflammation as much as possible, the eye undergoes very little disturbance during the couching of cataract, so that in most cases no after treatment is required, except the occasional application of a few leeches to the temples. Taking all these circumstances into consideration, it may be supposed that this issue of practice will meet the cordial approbation of all those experienced in this branch of the profession. To manage the natives with readiness, it is absolutely necessary to do much with one stroke of the instrument; light must be given in one instant, and with as little pain as possible. This can always be done with a hard cataract ; but one that is soft, and will not bear the pressure of the needle, requires a process of time to be removed from the axis of vision. I therefore always apprize the patients of this probable incident. I have many times passed a needle through the walls and humours of the eyeball without the patients shewing the least symptom of pain; they remained as firm and steady as if nothing of the kind had taken place, and when questioned regarding the degree of pain, some answered they felt none, others felt a little. I am therefore of opinion, that with a highly polished instrument the operation of couching may be always performed, and the cataract laid down below the axis of vision so as never to rise, without the patient feeling any more pain than that of blood-letting, and frequently not so much. During the time I have been in Poona, the number of applicants amount to 820, many of whom have been saved from blindness by the timely interference of medical treatment. About 100 people with incipient cataract have also applied for relief, but not being completely blind, I could not think of proposing an operation, but informed them, that a total deprivation of sight would most probably ensue in the course of eighteen months or two years, and then the eyes would be in a proper state to receive assistance by operation. I have not noted down any of these people's names, because they did not actually come under medical treatment. Adding all these to the number lastmentioned, will make 920 applicants. A few weeks ago I went down to the river's side, where an old blind woman resided; the structure of her left eye was totally destroyed, but the right contained a fine cataract, which was removed in an instant, and sight restored. In less than half an hour after this operation, a crowd of lame and blind surrounded me; among them I found ten were blind with cataract. On them I continued operating on the bank of the river till it grew dark, when I found I had but operated on eight, of whom seven had received good sight; the other one did not derive any benefit, on account of the principal nerve of vision being diseased. I then returned home, leaving two for operation, who followed me the next day, and received sight. On another day, in the presence of two gentlemen, by operation I restored fourteen out of fifteen to good sight; and on another day, I went a course of forty miles to Sassoor, and several villages adjacent to it, in company with Drs. French and Ducat, who very kindly assisted me to perform twenty-eight operations for cataract, out of which twenty-seven proved successful. And within the space of two days, with the same gentlemen, I rode a course of fifty miles to Tellygaum, and villages lying round it, where I operated with success on twenty-seven cases of cataract. Many of the patients included in this abstract came from the neighbouring villages of Poona, and some from the distance of 150 miles. JAMES FRENCH, M.D., Assist. Surg,, 67th regt, CHARLES DUCAT, M.D., Civil Surgeon, Poona. GEO. RICHMOND, Assist. Surg., 4th Lt. Drags. Published by order of the Honourable the Governor in Council. ED. ELLIOT, Assist. Sec. to Govt. in charge. Bombay Castle, 4th January 1825. ON THE DEATH OF A FRIEND. CHEERLESS is all around. The orb of day Oh, Friendship! I have tasted of thy joys; E. R. 3 G 2 VINDICATION VINDICATION OF MR. JENKINS, RESIDENT AT NAGPORE. To the Editor of the Asiatic Journal. SIR: I was in hopes that the task of refuting the calumnies uttered in a contemporary publication, respecting the British Resident at Nagpore, would have fallen into other and more able hands, particularly as I cannot at present be said to possess the confidence or correspondence of the gentleman so grievously assaulted. I have neither heard from nor written to Mr. R. Jenkins for three years: I mention this circumstance to show that I cannot be influenced by any extraordinary motives of friendship; but for Mr. Jenkins I have always had the greatest respect, originating in my admiration of his public character, his stern integrity, his great services to the state, his acquirements and knowledge. As a public officer Mr. Jenkins has few equals, and no superiors; nor is his private character less amiable and honourable. Thus much for Mr. Jenkins personally. In the Oriental Herald for this month, and in the preceding one, two virulent and vindictive attacks on the public and private character of that really eminent and honourable man, the British Resident or Envoy at the court of his Highness the Rajah of Nagpore, have appeared. In expressing my deep disgust and indignation at the last anonymous libel, I know not where to begin: every part and parcel is vulnerable and refutable; and as far as the gross personalities of Q. are concerned, "Each word's a libel, and each line a lie." I freely exonerate the editor from any intention to injure the reputation or wound the feelings of one for whom I know he must have a great respect; but, in publishing the anonymous statement of perhaps an interested and disappointed person, does not the editor act reprehensibly? Would any respectable newspaper publish such accusations, unless they were authenticated, or the name of the writer stated confidentially, as some kind of guarantee for the truth of his statements? As I am politically opposed to Mr. Buckingham, it will be said, probably, that I am now actuated by my own hostile feelings, and wish needlessly to assail Mr. B.; this I deny. Mr. B. publishes what is sent to him; but I do maintain that he ought to be more circumspect when the character of a high public functionary and estimable man is thus attacked by no one knows who. Indeed, it would be great and repeated provocations alone that could induce me to irritate or goad Mr. B. His severe losses in India, the most unjustifiable usage he received from a false friend (how honourably anxious and determinedly persevering has he been in his successful contest in rescuing his character from foul aspersions, yet he is the medium of circulating them against others!), his severe and protracted sickness, great bodily sufferings, and mental anxieties render him deserving of kindness and consideration. Mr. B. may be assured and certain I am not one of his enemies. I now proceed to contradict satisfactorily the whole of the misstatements contained in the letter just published. "Capt. Sandys married the mother of the Resident's wife, hence his good fortune.”— Oriental Herald. Capt. Sandys certainly did, and I fancy he had a right to marry whom he pleased; but he held his appointment (only one) long before his marriage, and it is 1,000 rupees per month. "Lieut. ་ "Lieut. Slack, another lucky fellow, married the sister, hence his good fortunehas greater pay than any Lieut. Colonel."-Oriental Herald. True he did; but he was appointed to his situation before he probably knew the name of his intended wife. He has 600 rupees per month. "Dr. Gordon, brother of Capt. and Lieut. Gordons, is probably worth a plum."Oriental Herald. Probably he was (he is now dead), and no wonder; his income from the Company was 800 rupees; this he held for thirteen years; had a public table to go to, a house found him, and the rate of interest of money at this time averaging ten per cent., and as high as twelve or fifteen with natives. No doubt, to a man at little or no expense, his fortune must rapidly increase, and honestly too. "Capt. Gordon, a brother of the former, has 2,300 rupees per month: pretty well for a captain who has done nothing particular, and is nothing above the common order of men."-Oriental Herald. Capt. Gordon has 1,200 rupees (Nagpore) per month; and for his military knowledge and fitness was chosen brigade-major by the officer commanding the horse, who had the option of nominating his own staff. "Lieut. Gordon holds three appointments: and to get his regimental allowances, he is attached to the military escort."—Oriental Herald. Lieut, Gordon holds one appointment under the Company's regulation, viz. political assistant, at 800 rupees per month. He acts, in conjunction with two others, as a magistrate in the city; and who more eligible than one so long filling a civil situation under and possessing the confidence of the Resident? for this, I believe, he gets nothing; if he gets any thing, it is only 300 rupees. He does not belong to the escort. : "The father-in-law of the latter has the honour of serving the Rajah. He has about 1,500 rupees per month."-Oriental Herald. He does not serve the Rajah, for all persons not in the Company's service have been peremptorily ordered from all the native states; but he never had more than 1,000 rupees (about 780 Calcutta); and to get that, which was an uncertainty, he gave up a pension of 500 rupees, both of which he has now lost. "His son, again, is adjutant. Lots of 'paper men,' you will say, as the corps is stationed at a distance, and these are the only two officers."-Oriental Herald. These are not the only two officers, there happening to be four. As to the idea of " paper men," the thing is as impracticable as the idea of Q. is ridiculous as well might a Bank Director be accused of uttering forged notes. "Bayly, who holds, in contradiction of all orders, so many good things; he is a first cousin to Mr. Secretary Bayly, of Calcutta; hence his good fortune.-Oriental Herald. Poor John Bayly! What a misfortune to have the Chief Secretary for a cousin! A better or braver man than Bayly is not in the Madras army. His admirable and intrepid conduct at the battle of Seta Buldee (of which action two prints were done by Orme), attracted the notice of Mr. Jenkins. But Bayly is a man of superior talents; these Mr. J. discovered and appreciated He does not hold a plurality of appointments; what he does hold is with th sanction of the Supreme Government. As military assistant to the Reside |