Early efforts to view the human fundus

✍ Scribed by Jerome T. Pearlman; Samuel J. Pearlman; Fred E. Engreen

• Book ID: 104644159
• Publisher: Springer-Verlag
• Year: 1973
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 450 KB
• Volume: 34
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0012-4486
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00151818

✦ Synopsis

The invention of the ophthalmoscope was an epochal event in the history of ophthalmology. Although much work had been done before nELMgOLTZ produced his original instrument, little recognition has been given to ophthalmologic observations and experiments preceding his invention. nELMnOLTZ himself showed little concern for predecessors in this field. In his first report (1851), he mentioned only the observations of CUMMING and BR/3C~E: 'We have until now assumed that the observed eye furnishes absolutely accurate images. When that is not the case, the propositions heretofore laid down do not hold strictly true, the returning light will indeed proceed to the illuminating body, but it will also in part pass by that, and an observer who approximates himself to the line of direction of the incident light, will be able to perceive a part of the light which is coming out. On this fact are based the