College of Optometrists Rare and Historical Books Collection This document is an incomplete listing of the rare and historical books in the College Library’s Historical Collections 1 and 2. The annotations in this bibliographic catalogue are taken from the books themselves, the 1932, 1935 and 1957 BOA Library Catalogues, Albert, ‘ Sourcebook of Ophthalmology’, IBBO vols 1 & 2, various auction catalogues and booksellers catalogues and ongoing curatorial research. This list was begun by the BOA Librarian (1999-2007) Mrs Jan Ayres and has been continued by the BOA Museum Curator (1998- ) Mr Neil Handley. Date of current version: 12 February 2015 ABBOTT, T.K. Sight and touch: an attempt to disprove the received (or Berkeleian) theory of vision. Longman, Green, Longman, Roberts & Green, 1864 A refutation of Berkley’s theory that the sight does not perceive distance, which is perceived by touch or by the locomotive faculty. Sir William de Wiveleslie Abney (1844-1920) The English physicist Sir William de Wiveleslie Abney (1843-190?) was one of the founders of modern photography. His interest in the theory of light, colour photography and spectroscopy spurred his investigations into colour vision. He entered the Royal Navy at the age of 17, retiring in 1881 with the rank of Captain. Elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1876 he was awarded the Rumford Medal in 1882 for his work on radiation. He was a pioneer in the chemistry of Photography. In 1892 he gave a lecture at the Royal Society of Arts on ‘Colour Blindness’ and in 1894 delivered the Tyndall Lectures at the Royal Institution on Colour Vision. ABNEY, William de Wiveleslie Colour measurement and mixture. Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, London, 1891 207p. ill. A treatise on the analysis of light from which is deduced the formation of the spectrum and the position of the colours in it. The second half of the book contains a detailed description of colour, describing both compound and simple colours and there measurement. ABNEY, William de Wiveleslie Colour vision. Being the Tyndale lectures, delivered in 1894 at the Royal Institution. London, Sampson Low, Marston & Company, 1895. 231p. ill. In this series of lectures on perception of colour and luminosity, the author describes the macula lutea, or the yellow spot of Soemmering, and the use of the colour patch and other apparatus for measuring impressions. The second author concentrates on heredity and disease related colour blindness, including, tobacco-alcohol amblyopia. He cites examples from his own cases. Visual tests are also demonstrated. ABNEY, William de Wiveleslie Researches in colour vision., and the trichromatic theory. Longman, Green & Co. London, 1913, 418p. 104 ill. ADAM, Curt Handbook of treatment for diseases of the eye. Translated by W.G. Sym and E.M. Lithgoe Rebman Ltd, London, 1911 264p. 36 ill. Deals with therapeutics and their application. Includes chapters on the general treatment of the eyes, the practice of refraction, the prescription of spectacles and first aid for ocular injuries. ADAM, C. Ophthalmoskopische Diagnostikan der Hand typischer Augenhintergrundsbilder. Urban & Scwarzenberg, Berlin. 1912 232p. ill A textbook of ophthalmology giving the methods of making an examination with an ophthalmoscope, descriptions of the appearance of the eye in health and disease etc. George Adams Sr (1709-1772) Optician and mathematical instrument maker to King George III. ADAMS, George A treatise describing the construction and explaining the use of new celestial and terrestrial globes designed to illustrate, in the most easy and natural manner the phenomena of the earth and heavens, and to show the correspondence of the two spheres with a great variety of astronomical and geographical problems. 2nd edition. The Author, London, 1769 345p. ill. This second edition is greatly preferred to the 1st (1766) which had 242 pages and only 3 plates. A sixth edition (called the thirtieth) in 1810 was edited by his son, Dudley Adams, demonstrating that the book was a considerable success. Includes at the end a Catalogue of Mathematical, Philosophical and Optical Instruments made and sold by George Adams, Mathematical Instrument-Maker to the King, At his Shop the Sign of Tycho Brahe’s Head (No 60) in Fleet Street, London. Where Gentlemen and Ladies may be supplied with such Instruments as are either Invented or Improved by himself; and Constructed according to the most perfect Theory. The optical instruments with prices include reflecting telescopes from 4 inches to two feet in length, The new achromatic refracting telescope, large double constructed microscope, Wilson’s pocket microscope, Ellis’ microscope, a solar microscope, pocket camera obscura, book camera, a new instrument for taking perspective views, concave and convex mirrors, prisms, zograscopes, opera glasses, reading glasses, spectacles for the nose, spectacles for the temples, spectacles with double joints ‘which neither press the nose or the temples’, Brazil pebbles. George A Adams (1750-1795) A famous London optician who acquired a world wide reputation as a maker of spectacles and microscope lenses. He was the son of George Adams Sr and followed his father into the instrument-making business, but also published works on electricity and vision. He succeeded his father as mathematical instrument maker to the Court. ADAMS, George An essay on vision, briefly explaining the fabric of the eye, and the nature of vision intended for the service of those whose eyes are weak or impaired. R. Hindmarsh, London 1789 153p. ill. An anatomy of the eye and description of the nature of vision and the role of light, colour and distances written in layman’s terms. Stresses what can be done to preserve vision and attempts to stop the practice of prescribing spectacles for healthy eyes. ADAMS, George An essay on vision, briefly explaining the fabric of the eye and the nature of vision intended for the service of those whose eyes are weak or impaired. 2nd Edition. R. Hindmarsh, London, 1792 172p. ill. ADAMS, George Essays on the microscope containing a practical description of the most improved microscopes; a general history of insects, their transformations, peculiar habits and oeconomy. 2nd edition edited and improved by Frederick Kanmacher. Dillon & Keating, for W.S. Jones, London 1798 724p ill. Contains a practical description of improvements made to microscopes: a general history of insects, their transformations, peculiar habits and œconomy. Sir William Adams (1783-1827) A British ophthalmologist who studied and worked under John Cunningham Saunders at the London Infirmary for Curing Diseases of the Eye and Ear. He was awarded a knighthood in 1814 for his controversial claim to cure the Egyptian Ophthalmia which was currently devastating British soldiers. He became surgeon and oculist to the Prince Regent and the dukes of Kent and Sussex. Two years before his death he changed his name to his wife’s maiden name – Rawson,. ADAMS, Sir William Official papers relating to operations performed by order of the Directors of the Royal Hospital for Seamen at Greenwich on several of the pensioners belonging thereto, for the purposes of ascertaining the general efficacy of the new modes of treatment practiced by Mr Adams for the cure of the various aspects of cataract, and the Egyptian ophthalmia. W. Winchester & Son, London 1814 Bound with A special report of the General Committee of the London Infirmary for curing diseases of the eye; in which certain pretensions of Sir William Adams, advanced by the Official Papers published by order of the Hon. Directors of Greenwich Hospital, lately submitted to a medical committee, appointed by Government and affecting the rights of the Infirmary, and the merits of the late John Cunningham Saunders Esq. , its founder and surgeon, are examined and disproved by the correspondence of Mr Saunders and other documents. Published by order of the general Committee by Longman, Hurst, Rees, Ormew and Brown, 1815 ADAMS, Sir William A practical inquiry into the causes of the frequent failure of the operations of depression, and of the extraction of cataract, as usually performed, with a series of new and improved operations. Baldwin, Craddock and Joy, London 1817 413p ill. Reviews the history of cataract surgery and includes chapters on the causes and symptoms of cataract. The author describes three methods of treating the disease: extraction, depression and solution absorption and describes his own method for extracting hard cataracts by dilating the pupil with belladonna, placing the cataract in the anterior chamber of the eye, dividing the cornea and extracting the lens. His method was criticised by contemporaries as being complicated and harmful. ADAMS, Sir William Practical observations on Ectropium, or eversion of the eyelids with the description of a new operation for the cure of that disease; on the modes of forming an artificial pupil, and on cataract. J Brettell for J Callow, London 1812 252p ill. The author describes how to create a normal eyelid using a knife of his own design to remove an angular part of the lid, and describes a method of creating an artificial pupil when the natural one is obliterated. Originally the operation of iridectomy was undertaken for the purely optical purpose of forming an artificial pupil rather than the curative measure that it became in the hands of Beer and von Graefe. This method is based on those used by Cheselden and Sharpe. ADAMS, Sir William A treatise on artificial pupil in which is described a series of improved operations for its formation; with an account of the morbid states of the eye to which this is applicable. Baldwin, Cradock & Joy, London, 1819 193p ill. The author describes a modification of Chesleden’s operation for creating an artificial pupil using an iris scalpel of his own design. An appendix includes 117 cases. Francois d’Aguilon (1566-7? – 1617) French scientist and rector of a Jesuit College in Antwerp.