SAVING AN EYE.

Colonist, Volume XXXV, Issue 7264, 8 March 1892, Page 4

SAVING AN EYE.

(From the Auckland ' Star.') Several weeks ago we published an account of an accident to a little daughter of Mr David White, of Graham-street, which, at the time, it | was feared, would lead to the total loss of the eye. Yesterday Mrs White called upon us to make known the fact that the child's eye has been saved under circumstances for which she is very grateful. At the time of the accident, she says, her little girl was playing with a piece of lo'okingglass, reflecting the sun's rays, when suddenly she tripped over something and fell ;the piece of glass being jerked upwards penetrated the lower and upper part of the eye, making a wound over a half inch in length, right into the globe and cornea of the eye. The iris escaped through the wound, and so also did the watery fluid and a good portion of the jelly substance ofthe globe. Mrs White says she took the child to two doctors, who, upon consultation, decided to take the eye out. She had very little, hope, that it could be saved, but she would not permit the removal of the eye till she had consulted another doctor. She took the child, to Dr. Wilkins, who declared it was quite possible to save the eye, and undertook the operation. Placing the! child under chloroform, he stitched up, the,, globe -with fine gol-3 .wire, and brought the lids together and stitched them so* fax, as to make a splint for the lacerated, eyeball?; ' Then both eyes were pallded ; ' ; and baiidaged, and the little- one sent home. That was five weeks- ago. ; The skilfulriess ; and success of the : operation are attested by the appearance ; of the eye now. The wound can be traced along the eyebair for quite ah inch ahd r a quarter, but it has healed up; splendidly. The eye is quite as \ healthy in appearance,.' asit-i : fellow,. r«nd, what is most; important, the' sight ha3 been saved. ".The 'little girl -can see to read the words'on'a. shilling,, aind is 'daily recOveriti^ythe: strength of., the .sight.' ; al. is ;ea3y to see that the operationihas -beenjme of the most -extreme ■ tlelicacy, •■•■requiring, 'extreme; skill. The mdtHer;is delighted 1 with the • cure, and., very ' thankf uL she ; did not allow the eye to be taken out.