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Sir William Mackenzie: sympathetic ophthalmia and glaucoma before ophthalmoscopy
Article first published online: 10 DEC 2009
DOI: 10.1111/j.1445-2197.2009.05146.x
© 2009 The Author. Journal compilation © 2009 Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
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How to Cite
Serpell, G. (2009), Sir William Mackenzie: sympathetic ophthalmia and glaucoma before ophthalmoscopy. ANZ Journal of Surgery, 79: 926–929. doi: 10.1111/j.1445-2197.2009.05146.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 10 DEC 2009
- Article first published online: 10 DEC 2009
- Accepted for publication 20 July 2009.
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Keywords:
- glaucoma;
- ophthalmology history;
- ophthalmoscopy;
- Sir William Mackenzie;
- sympathetic ophthalmia
Abstract
One of the practitioners of probably the oldest surgical specialty, ophthalmic, was the eminent Scottish ophthalmologist, Sir William Mackenzie. Educated in Edinburgh, he moved to Glasgow, and described and named sympathetic ophthalmia before the time of the ophthalmoscope, well defining his powers of observation and deduction. Founding the Glasgow Eye Infirmary, his ‘Practical Treatise on Diseases of the Eye’ appeared in English in four editions (1850–1884) and in French and German. In this also appears the first full and clear account of glaucoma. Both he and the illustrator of his book, Wharton Jones, moved to Glasgow because of rather indefinite connections with Robert Knox, the anatomist, who was allegedly helped by the bodysnatchers, Burke and Hare. Mackenzie and his book were highly regarded before the revolutionary ophthalmoscope. He was knighted and appointed Surgeon Oculist to the Queen in Scotland.