Diseases of the lymphoid tissue of the conjunctiva / by E. Treacher Collins.

  • Collins, E. Treacher (Edward Treacher), 1862-1937.
Date:
[1910]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Diseases of the lymphoid tissue of the conjunctiva / by E. Treacher Collins. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by UCL Library Services. The original may be consulted at UCL (University College London)

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    In performing the operation I employ two pairs of expression forceps, holding the upper lid everted with one pair, and with the other grasping the retrotarsal fold and squeezing the follicles out of it. In the tarsal conjunctiva it is frequently impossible to get rid of the follicles by expres- sion, owing to its firm attachment to the tissue beneath. The so-called elementary or primary granulations cannot be squeezed out of the tarsal conjunctiva., To get rid of all the lymphoid follicles from the retrotarsal fold it is often found necessary to repeat the procedure of expression at several different sittings. Even when all follicles seem to have been completely removed from the retrotarsal fold, if the disease is not cured in other parts of the conjunctiva, fresh ones make their appearance which in their turn have to be expressed. The operation devised by Galezowski of excision of the retrotarsal folds is a very effectual way of getting rid of the follices and shortening the duration of the disease. I have performed it several times, in cases where there has been much redundance of tissue behind the tarsus. In some cases I have removed all four retrotarsal folds with satisfactory results. . Kuhnt's operation of removal of the tarsus and con- junctiva which covers it I have not performed, not having met at the Ophthalmia Schools with cases which I thought sufficiently severe to justify the employment of so radical a. procedure. Time-honoured sulphate of copper still, I think, main- tains the foremost place as the best application in trachoma to stimulate the absorption of follicles which cannot be. removed by expression. The reason why a copper salt proves specially useful for this purpose is, I think, to be found in the experiments of Leber. He introduced into the anterior chambers of the eyes of rabbits sterilised substances of different chemical characters, and found different kinds of reaction followed. Thus pieces of gold and glass excited no inflammation, slowly becoming encapsuled by a delicate