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HISTORY OF OPHTHALMOLOGY MICHAEL F. MARMOR
BibTeX
@MISC{Marmor_historyof,
author = {Michael F. Marmor and Key Boeckmann and Danielssen Hansen Henle and Gerhard Henrik and Armauer Hansen},
title = {HISTORY OF OPHTHALMOLOGY MICHAEL F. MARMOR},
year = {}
}
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Abstract
Abstract. G. H. A. Hansen (1841–1912) is widely known as the discoverer of the infectious cause of leprosy. It is less well known that his career was threatened by an episode involving experimentation on the eye. As a staff physician at the leprosy hospitals of Bergen, Norway, early in his career, Hansen learned about ocular involvement in leprosy and co-authored Leprous Diseases and the Eye. In 1873 he observed bacilli in leprous nodules, but proof of an infectious origin was difficult to obtain because the agent could not be cultured and no one had demonstrated direct transmission. Hansen tried several unsuccessful experiments, and in 1879 he passed a cataract knife that had incised an active leprous nodule into a woman’s conjunctiva. No nodule developed, but the woman complained of pain and said she was never asked for permission. Hansen was brought to trial where eminent physicians testified on his behalf—but Hansen himself readily admitted that no permission had been sought for fear the woman would say no. He was convicted, and relieved of his post as staff physician, but he was allowed to retain an appointment as Chief Medical Officer of Health for Leprosy, in which capacity he worked for
Keyphrases
history ophthalmology michael staff physician direct transmission eminent physician leprosy hospital cataract knife woman conjunctiva infectious cause co-authored leprous disease chief medical officer leprous nodule active leprous nodule infectious origin several unsuccessful experiment ocular involvement
