Page:A synopsis of the diseases of the eye, and their treatment - to which are prefixed, a short anatomical description and a sketch of the physiology of that organ (IA synopsisofdiseas1821trav).pdf/13

PREFACE They have no peculiarity, however, except what depends upon their number, and the tenderness and functions of the organ af- fected. In their nature they are swayed by the same laws which influence all common diseases, for which the practice of surgery is instituted; and their treatment is regu- lated by general principles, which prevail throughout the whole of this indispensable art.

No one, except the thorough surgeon, can make the complete oculist; by which Jast term is not meant any body who can merely manage to extract the cataract bet- ter than the generality of surgeons, but a man whose science leads him to recognise the analogy betwixt the diseases of the eye and those of other parts, and whose knowledge of the latter, while it qualifies him in a great measure for the treatment of the former, gives him a decided superi- ority over the bare oculist.”

“On a cru faussement (says the intelli- gent M. Louis, in adverting to the diseases of the eye,) que le scavoir nécessaire pour discerner le caractére de ces diverses af- �