Ophthalmoscopes, Mirrors, & Talking Lights

By James Vendeland

This book is a compilation of three lectures which were prepared for presentation at the annual meeting of the Ocular Heritage Society. These lectures were given in April 2011, 2012 and 2013.
As a collector of antique medical instruments, in particular 19th century ophthalmoscopes and other optical instruments, I believe that I have something of significance to contribute to this limited field of interest.
My first lecture deals with a problem I encountered while researching ophthalmoscopes acquired for my personal collection and while reviewing the collection of ophthalmoscopes of the Dittrick Medical Museum in Cleveland, Ohio. This lecture discusses the steps and strategies employed in determinating the age of an antique ophthalmoscope. Several resources and hints which I have found most helpful in dating these instruments are presented to the reader and collector.
My fascination for reflecting mirrors led me to my second lecture. These mirrors are an integral part of 19th century reflecting ophthalmoscopes, many electric ophthalmoscopes, and other medical instruments. I found it most interesting to trace the evolution of these mirrors. Moreover, my research yielded an unexpected result, how the practice of medicine (the doctor-patient relationship) evolved and changed from the 18th century through the end of the 19th century.
And finally, my third lecture is devoted to an optical device which in one circumstance could have been life-saving and in another definitely did save lives. This device played a role in both U.S. and British military events occurring during the latter fourth of the 19th century. It also has some links with instruments I discussed in the two preceding lectures.

• Language: English
• Publisher: James Vendeland
• Release date: Apr 19, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301167135

James Vendeland

Jim Vendeland is a graduate of Case Western Reserve University and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. For 35 years he practiced ophthalmology in Cleveland, Ohio and has been studying Russian for 20 years. For several years Jim and his teacher and coauthor Elena Levin, have translated a wide variety of Russian poems, opera librettos, musical romances, and prose into English. He is also an opera fanatic, a collector of rare medical eye instruments, and former president of the Ocular Heritage Society. Jim is married and has 3 children and 5 grandchildren.

Book preview

OPHTHALMOSCOPES, MIRRORS, & TALKING LIGHTS

JAMES L. VENDELAND M.D.

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Smash words Edition

Copyright 2013 James L. Vendeland M.D.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREFACE

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

LECTURE 1 Dating of 19th Century Ophthalmoscopes

LECTURE 2 A Diagnostic Tool for the 19th Century

LECTURE 3 A Tale of Talking Lights

SOME AFTERTHOUGHTS

REFERENCES

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

DEDICATION

THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO THOSE SCIENTISTS AND PHYSICIANS WHOSE CURIOSITY AND PERSEVERANCE PROVIDED THE MEANS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO ENJOY A BETTER AND HEALTHIER WAY OF LIFE

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank James M. Edmonson Ph.D., Chief Curator, Jennifer Nieves, Archivist/Museum Registrar, and Laura Travis, Assistant Curator of the Dittrick Medical Museum, Cleveland, Ohio for their invaluable assistance in providing me access to reference material used in the preparation of the manuscripts Dating of 19th Century Ophthalmoscopes and A Diagnostic Tool for the 19th Century.

I also wish to thank James G. Ravin, MD, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo, Ohio for reviewing my manuscript Dating of 19th Century Ophthalmoscopes and for his helpful comments.

In addition, I am most grateful to Amanda Eckertson, my graphic design artist, who put a great deal of time and effort into the creation of the book cover.

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Front Cover: A collage of 19th century ophthalmoscopes and a Mance V Heliograph from the author's private collection.

PREFACE

This book is based on three lectures which were presented at the annual meeting of the Ocular Heritage Society and given in April 2011, 2012 and 2013.

As a collector of antique medical instruments, in particular 19th century ophthalmoscopes and other optical instruments, I believe that I have something of significance to contribute to this limited field of interest.

My first lecture deals with a problem I encountered while researching ophthalmoscopes acquired for my personal collection and while reviewing the collection of ophthalmoscopes of the Dittrick Medical Museum in Cleveland, Ohio. This lecture discusses the steps and strategies employed in determining the age of an antique ophthalmoscope. Several resources and hints, which I have found most helpful in dating these instruments, are presented to the reader and collector.

My fascination for reflecting mirrors led me to my second lecture. These mirrors are an integral part of 19th century reflecting ophthalmoscopes, many electric ophthalmoscopes, and other medical instruments. I found it most interesting to trace the evolution of these mirrors. Moreover, my research yielded an unexpected result, how the practice of medicine (the doctor-patient relationship) evolved and changed from the 18th century through the end of the 19th century.

And finally,