Chapter VIII: 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