Posters

William Porterfield and his landmark work 'a treatise on the eye, the manner, and phenomena of vision'

Poster Details

First Author: G.Balanikas GREECE

Co Author(s):    D. Peironidis   C. Georgiadou   P. Ageladarakis   I. Chalkias   E. Chalkias   D. Christodoulou     

Abstract Details

Purpose:

William Porterfield was one of the prominent ophthalmologists of the 18th century. We present his landmark two-volume work 'A Treatise On The Eye' which great physicians in both sides of Atlantic praised as 'a very remarkable production for the age in which it was written (British ophthalmic historian R.James) and: 'the advent of Porterfield and his works might be looked on as an outstanding episode in the history of medical science, a singular occurrence in the ophthalmology of the 18th century (American Burton Chance). Among the many who emphasized the usefulness of this work were Thomas Young and Hermann Helmholtz.

Setting:

A' Ophthalmologic Clinic of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, AHEPA Hospital, Greece

Methods:

The work of Porterfield is examined in this presentation along with the biographical data in spite of the absence of a detailed biography. This work consists of two volumes, a total of around 900 pages, both contain an appendix of detailed geometric and precise plates and the errata. The treatise includes five books and their chapters dedicated to the anatomy of the eye, its movements, cataract and to visual perception. The latter according to the scholars is the accolade of the work including the theories from Aristotle to Boyle and Huygens but mostly he stays to the Newtonian doctrine.

Results:

This treatise was a reference work for more than a century which many prominent ophthalmologists valued with confidence and respect. The author explained as better as he could the nature of the eye, the theories concerning anatomy, visual function and some of eye's disorders. He described with great detail the vision and refraction using the dominant view of his time, supporting Newton’s theories about the nature of the light and physic optics. The tables at the end of each volume are quite precise, adjusted to the schematic eye bulb.

Conclusions:

William Porterfield was one of the great ophthalmologists of the eighteenth century and his work' A Treatise on the Eye, the Manner, and Phenomena of Vision ' was a cornerstone in the medical literature and ophthalmic history. The value of this monumental work was praised by many prominent physicians and historians such as Julius Hirschberg, Burton Chance, R.R.Jame, A. Maitland Ramsey, etc., published in 1759 and remained in use for more than 100 years. This fact evinces the greatness of William Porterfield and his major contribution to the evolution of our science

Financial Disclosure:

None