Accession No
2688
Brief Description
Dr Liebreich's ophthalmoscope, 1865 (c)
Origin
Maker
Class
medical
Earliest Date
1865
Latest Date
1865
Inscription Date
Material
metal (oxidised brass); wood; glass; cloth (velvet); hide (leather)
Dimensions
length 97mm; diameter of mirror 30mm box length 105mm; breadth 45mm; thickness 20mm
Special Collection
Provenance
Inscription
‘DR LIEBREICH’S
OPHTHALMOSCOPE’ (box)
Description Notes
Oxidised brass mount. Mirror with central aperture. Wooden handle. Hinged ‘U’-shaped holder for lenses. Fitted leather-covered box with 3 spare lenses; space in lid for 3 further lenses (missing). Lined with purple velvet.
References
Events
Description
Opthalmoscopes have been in use since the late 19th Century for examining the retina of the eye. Extensive training was needed to use these early instruments as they required a light source such as a gas lamp or candle and it was often difficult to recognise diseases of the retina.
Training would often involve the use of schematic eyes with interchangeable painted discs to be placed at the back of the eye to reproduce various disease patterns.
FM:40909
Images (Click to view full size):
