Highlights in Danish ophthalmology
1910- 1924.
by Mogens Norn
One of professor Bjerrum’s last patients was Karl Otto Bjarnhof (1898-1980). The diagnosis was glaucoma absolutum (operatum dxt.) and glaucoma chronicum (sclerotomia o.sin.), treated with pilocarpine. Bjarnhof’s mother asked; ”Can the boys disease be better, when he grow up?” Professor Bjerrum’s answer was “No!” - - - It was like a sabre cut: “what is lost, is lost, it comes never again!” - Bjarnhof became blind. He was educated as organist, became journalist and radio – interviewer, chairman for the Danish Blind Society and a famous poet. First of all: In his Danish novels we can understand the blind existence (1).
In 1910 the Danish ophthalmologist Marius Tscherning (1854-1939) was appointed to be professor ophthalmologiae at the University of Copenhagen after Bjerrum. Tscherning came from Paris, where he was director for the famous Sorbonne Laboratory (2).
Tscherning continued i.a. treatment of squint, now mostly tenotomy or prism – spectacles, not so much occlusion or training with Whatstone – Javals stereoscope, as he had learned in Paris.
1911.
Tscherning had studied the optics of spectacle lenses. Before this time the front of myopic spectacle lenses were concave or plane, the hyperopic glasses biconvex or planoconvex . Tscherning laid down formulas for meniscus glasses, (punctalgläser), forward bulging glasses, for correct vision also in the periphery of the spectacle - glass. Tscherning handed over the formulas to a poor French manufacturer: Benoist et Berthiot in Paris. The French people were poor at that time, because they have had to pay enormous monies to the German as war substitute after 1870.
The Swedish ophthalmologist Alvar Gullstrand applied to the German manufacturer Carl Zeiss Works in Jena with his later version of this lenses. From this time all spectacles are of this forward bulging type, lenses with convex front and concave back surface.
In 1911 the Swedish Alvar Gullstrand received the Nobel prize. He developed the aspheric lens, improved spectacle lenses, (developed the reflex free binocular ophthalmoscope, slit lamp and keratometer). Marius Tscherning was disappointed, because he had developed the aspheric spectacle lenses before Gullstrand. Never the less Tscherning was not bitter: “Gullstrand received the Nobel prize, and I received the satisfaction of seeing my inventions accepted all over the word”. - But Tscherning and Gullstrand never became friends.
In the same year the IV Nordic Congress was held in Helsinki, Finland. The mean topics were glaucoma, retinal detachment and myopia (4).
In the same year K.K.K. Lundsgaard (Konrad Kristian Karl, 1867-1931) initiated letters with scientific news to Nordic ophthalmologists, the Nordic Ophthalmologic Literary Ring, called NOLR.
1912.
Tscherning wrote a texbook for students. It is short, well written, with technical notes and an index (3).
In the Ophthalmologic Society Heerfordt’s theory: That flaps in the vortex veins were the cause of haemorrhagic glaucoma (fig. 2), was lively discussed. The discussions were not so much scientific , but more political, because his announcements in the press. At that time, it was not allowed or ethic to give sensational messages to the press. All members of the society resolved, that his theory was of no importance. Nevertheless, the theory can have some interest even to day.
1914-18.
The world war was terrible, also for scientific co – operation. No Nordic Congress was held. The Japanees ophthalmologist Shinobuto Ishihara (1879- 63) invented the pseudo – iso - chromatic plates for colour vision examinations as the best test for military pilots. This was a war – secret but the first copy was given already in 1917 to the neutral Denmark, (6), now kept in Medicinsk Museion, Copenhagen, donated by professor Eilif Gregersen .
In 1918 Tscherning published his adaptation examinations in diminished light in a box with mirrors, prisms, dark – and coloured filters. The blue colour disappeared first, then the green and at last the red colour. Thereafter the dark scotoma appeared (5).
1920.
Bjerrum died. But just before his death, this Danish professor succeeded to come to his home in Schleswig , Sønderjylland, to vote it back to Denmark together with all Danes in this part of the former duchy.
At the 1o2. meeting in the Danish Ophthalmologic Society Tscherning described Weber –Fechners psycho – physiologic law: The sense impression increase logarithmic with the irritation. This law is only valid in the twilight interval, according to Tschernings examinations.
1923.
Niels Høeg (1876-51) declared, that a white figure on a black background appear bigger than an identical black figure on white background. It was in a discussion of Tschernings demonstration of dark-adaptation in the Danish Ophthalmologic Society in 1923.
Høeg became president for the Ophthalmologic Society in 1923. From this year he had eye – practice in Horsens, Jutland. He was probably the first brilliant ophthalmologic illustrator and he studied the Ophthalmologic Societies history. This great work was finished by his death by Chr. Lottrup -Andersen (7).
The Scandinavian journal Acta Ophthalmologica was established. The famous Swedish Alvar Gullstrand was proposed as chief editor, he was unwilling “to be an ornamental editor”. The Danish KK.K. Lundsgaard (Fig.4) was elected. He was born in Silkeborg, Jutland, son of a master cabinetmaker. He was christened CCC, but changed to KKK, not to be mixed up with Christen Lundsgaard , professor in intern medicine at the Rigshospital.
There were appointed two Acta- editors from each of the four Nordic countries: Enroth and Vainö Grönholm from Finland, I.Schiøtz and Sigurd Hagen from Norway, Nordenson and Ask from Sweden , Henning Rønne and KKK Lundsgaard from Denmark. Iceland was first represented 37 years later. Acta was owened by the Nordic Societies, state grants helped in the beginning. Lundsgaards many ideas was realised, except a portrait gallery
in Acta. The language should be the principal at that time: German, French or English. Acta should contain reports from the Nordic Ophthalmologic Societies.
1924.
K.K.K. Lundsgaard described night – blindness in chronic alcoholism (5).
In the beginning of the next year I was born. This fact is a personal highlight, not a national ophthalmo – historical Danish highlight! (and for this fact TBE is very grateful ed)
References.
- Norn, M: Visuel forfatter trods blindhed.: Blindesagen 1991;7:19-22 (in Danish)
- Dreyer, V, Edmund J & Møller PM: The first Danish chairs in ophthalmology: Documenta Ophthalmol. 1992; 81: 87-96.
- Tscherning, M: Kortfattet lærebog i oftalmologi. Copenhagen, Gyldendal 1913: 1-122 (in Danish).
- Norn, M: Nordiske oftalmolog kongresser: Oftalmolog 1989; 9 (1) 20 (in Danish).
- Norn, M: Mørkesyn og adaptation i dansk oftalmologi 1889-1990: Dansk medicinsk historisk Årbog 2004; 32: 157-171 (in Danish).
- Norn, M: Farvesansens kulturhistorie. Copenhagen, 1997: Leo Temabog 1-95 (In Danish).
- Norn, M: The Societies Archives. Acta Ophthalmol. 2002; suppl. 234 :80: 28-29.
