CHAPTER VIII. The Commencement of “the Ophthalmic Hospital Reports”

THE COMMENCEMENT OF “THE OPHTHALMIC HOSPITAL REPORTS”

The first English journal devoted specially to the subject of ophthalmology originated with the medical staff of the Moorfields Hospital. The first number of the Ophthalmic Hospital Reports, as the journal was called, was published in October, 1857. Its origin and aims were set forth as follows:

“At a meeting of the Medical Council of the Hospital on the 25th of August last, it was determined to issue a periodical record of ophthalmic observation and experience; it was thought that, not only at Moorfields, much valuable information was gained and lost that should be preserved, and that such a journal might obtain favour throughout the country. Mr. Streatfield was appointed to collect and arrange, from time to time, the material and order its publication.

“The Ophthalmic Journal will be, for the present, issued quarterly. It will give short monographs by members of the staff, and of the profession generally (if we are so fortunate as to engage their attention), on any physiological or pathological subjects connected with our especial study; with, it is hoped, occasional engravings, or photographs as illustrations. It will also contain a summary reprint of the monthly reports of the Registrar of the Hospital, and titles of books and preparations presented to the Ophthalmic Library and Museum of the Hospital. It will not contain reviews of books as such, or any correspondence, or anonymous publications. The opinions expressed in it must be understood to be those of individual authors. The editor will collect minor noteworthy observations, and record novelties and illustrative cases, with regard to consecutive detail.”

A list of the subscribers given in the fifth part, published a year later, shows them to have then numbered 195. By its establishment the Library at the Hospital became enriched, for exchanges were effected between it and several other journals dealing directly or indirectly with ophthalmology.

Though the highly specialised subject of the journal prevented it from gaining a very extensive circulation, it became the medium for publication of original articles which are now regarded as among the classics of ophthalmic science.

The first volume is composed of six parts, published at intervals between October, 1857, and January, 1859. The first part opened with an article by Bowman, giving an extended account of his investigations into the treatment of lacrymal obstruction by slitting up the lacrymal punctum and the use of probes, which has already been referred to in