Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine by George M Gould and Walter L Pyle

Original Copyright 1896 by W.B. Saunders

Taylor reports the removal of a piece of bone which had remained quiescent in the eye for fourteen years; after the removal of the eye the bone was found adherent to the inner tunics. It resembled the lens in size and shape. Williams' mentions continual tolerance of foreign bodies in the eyeball for fifteen and twenty-two years; and Chisholm reports the lodgment of a fragment of metal in the iris for twenty-three years.

Liebreich extracted a piece of steel from the interior of the eye where it had been lodged twenty-two years. Barkar speaks of a piece of steel which penetrated through the cornea and lens, and which, five months later, was successfully removed by the extraction of the cataractous lens. Critchett gives an instance of a foreign body being loose in the anterior chamber for sixteen years. Rider speaks of the lodgment of a fragment of a copper percussion cap in the left eye, back of the inner ciliary margin of the iris, for thirty-five years; and Bartholinus mentions a thorn in the canthus for thirty years. Jacob reports a case in which a chip of iron remained in the eyeball twenty-eight years without giving indications for removal. It was clearly visible, protruding into the anterior surface of the iris,and although it was rusted by its long lodgment, sight in the eye was fairly good, and there was no sign of irritation. Snell gives an instance in which a piece of steel was imbedded close to the optic disc with retention of sight. It was plainly visible by the opthalmoscope eighteen months after the accident, when as yet no diminution of sight was apparent. Smyly speaks of a portion of a tobacco pipe which was successfully removed from the anterior chamber by an incision through the cornca.

Clark mentions a case in which molten lead in the eye caused no permanent injury; and there are several cases mentioned in confirmation of the statement that the eye seems to be remarkably free from disastrous effects after this injury. Williamson mentions eyelashes in the anterior chamber of the eye, the result of a stab wound of this organ. Contusion of the eyeball may cause dislocation of the lens into the anterior chamber, and several instances have been recorded. We regret our inability to give the reference or authority for a report that we have seen, stating that by one kick of a horse the lenses of both eyes of a man were synchronously knocked through the eyeballs by the calkins of the horseshoe.

Oliver mentions extraction of a lens by a thrust of a cow's horn.

Lowe speaks of rupture of the anterior capsule of the lens from violent sneezing, with subsequent absorption of the lenticular substance and restoration of vision. Trioen mentions a curious case of expulsion of the crystalline lens from the eye in ophthalmia, through the formation o fa corneal fissure. The authors have personal knowledge of a case of spontaneous extrusion of the lens through a corneal ulcer, in a case of ophthalmia of the new-born.