Emily Dickinson's ophthalmic consultation with Henry Willard Williams, MD

Emily Dickinson is one of America's premier poets of the 19th century. Henry Willard Williams, MD, was one of the very first physicians to limit his practice to ophthalmology and was the established leader in his field in Boston, Massachusetts. They met during the time of the Civil War, when Emily consulted him about her ophthalmic disorder. No records of the diagnosis survive. Photophobia, aching eyes, and a restriction in her ability to work up close were her main symptoms. Iritis, exotropia, or psychiatric problems are the most frequent diagnoses offered to explain her difficulties. Rather than attempt a definitive conclusion, this article will offer an additional possibility that Dr Williams likely considered (ie, hysterical hyperaesthesia of the retina). This was a common diagnosis at that time, although it has currently faded from use.

Superstitions of George Bartisch

George Bartisch was a 16th century German ophthalmologist who published the first ophthalmology textbook in the vernacular for laymen and non-university-trained practitioners. His treatments and understanding of diseases rested firmly on Greek tradition, but he also was very involved in the superstitions of the day. This essay looks at the man and his mores. Bartisch believed that much of the suffering of patients had to do with sins they had committed, and that the devil was the active force in the world inflicting this punishment. Often, he believed, witches would carry out the devil's hexes, in the form of either hot or cold witchcraft. Bartisch also felt that astrology played a major role in the outcome of surgery. Because of that he practiced only during certain astrological signs, and in the proper waxing and waning phases of the moon. He also linked many common problems to sins. For example, presbyopia was presented as due to excessive use of alcohol. Glasses were to be avoided because he felt they destroyed vision in themselves. Despite these superstitions and misconceptions, Bartisch was an honorable professional and his books give insight into the making of a good ophthalmologist.

Bartisch on theriac

George Bartisch is best known as the German ophthalmologist who wrote the mammoth textbook Ophthalmodouleia, printed in 1583. He wrote several other books, most of which were never published. One that he self-published is on Venice Theriac of Andromachus. Common theriac has a long history in medicine from just after Hippocrates. It initially was used for venomous snake bites but later was used for poisonings too. By Bartisch's time it was considered a nearly universal cure-all. In the book, a multitude of ophthalmic and general diseases are listed and then the dose of Theriac is given. Bartisch warned against the many inferior types of theriac available through unscrupulous traveling salespeople. He offered the superior Venice Theriac for sale, compounded by himself in Dresden, Germany, where he resided.

Vogtherr's Büchlin

Heinrich Vogtherr's Büchlin is the first European, ophthalmology booklet published in the vernacular. It appeared in 1538 amidst a stream of other medical booklets by the same publisher. Büchlin includes an anatomy of the eye, a description of pathophysiology, various diseases, and numerous remedies. It precedes G. Bartisch's Ophthalmodouleia but earlier texts probably influenced Bartisch more.

Jaeger, about glaucoma

E. Jaeger published the first illustration of the glaucomatous cup. Throughout his clinical career he published multiple observations about findings in glaucoma. In his book Ueber Glaucoma he praised and advocated A. von Graefe's iridectomy but contradicted Graefe's concept of the etiology being a localized choroiditis in favor of systemic gout.

Caspar Stromayr: sixteenth century ophthalmologist

Caspar Stromayr, ophthalmologist and hernia surgeon, is credited with writing the first German ophthalmic work of known authorship. Written in about 1559 as an appendix to Practica Copiosa, a larger work on hernia surgery, the ophthalmic chapters describe Stromayr's thoughts on the etiology and treatment of cataract. Stromayr, a master craftsman, also expresses his hostility to the shams and ignorance of the charlatan eye surgeons of his day. This interesting historical article provides a biographical sketch of Stromayr, a description of his book, and a translation of two chapters, "On Cataract of the Eye: How They Take Their Beginning and Whence they Come" and "How You Recognize the Cataract, When It is Ripe to Recline or to be Taken Away."