Description

According to von Haugwitz in Hirschberg’s HISTORY OF OPHTHALMOLOGY (1986: A167): “Hemostasis played an important role in all fields of surgery. Until it was possible to ligate smaller and medium sized vessels around a hemostat ,these blood vessels were cauterized…It was soon realized that this cauterization would only be advisable if the adjacent tissues could be spared and large areas of necrosis avoided so that healing could take place. Paraffin oil was injected to stimulate defense mechanism. Figures 448 and 453 demonstrate such syringes. This non specific stimulation was used especially in cases of iritis. Paraffin is absorbed slowly and therefore acts for a long period of time.” Figure 448 is shown in last image.

This cased nickel-plated syringe set is complete (with 7 nozzles of varying diameter)and in excellent cosmetic and mechanical condition. N.B.: this syringe is not plunged but rather it is screwed (see fourth image);as von Haugwitz indicates, this allows more mechanical pressure to be exerted on the paraffin.