General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

2

AKA

artificial eye making display

Patents

N/A

General Description

Wooden display case has glass front; metal hardware & fittings. Glass & synthetic prosthesis material secured to heavy paper board using metal wire; handwritten labels printed on heavy paper stock.

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

122.0 cm

Width

18.3 cm

Height

45.5 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Medical Technology

Category

Miscellaneous

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Veterans CA

Country

Unknown

State/Province

Unknown

City

Unknown

Context

Country

Unknown

State/Province

Unknown

Period

This display probably assembled and subsequently used late1920s- 1930s.

Canada

Display presumably made by Dept. of Veterans Affairs, probably following WW1. Prior to 1973, this display was loaned to the museum at the Academy of Medicine by the D.A. via the Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto. (Ref. 3)

Function

Three-dimensional display illustrates the various stages in the making of an artificial eye.

Technical

Concentrated efforts made, particularly in Great Britain and North America, to develop practical, functional prostheses was largely driven by casualties of Great War. The sheer numbers of combatants and civilians requiring reconstructive surgery and the fitting of artificial limbs, including eyes, combined with advances in techniques and materials, taught medical practioners much and led to innovative designs and a better overall understanding of patients' needs. This display was probably fabricated during later 1920s- early 1930s. It incorporates some synthetic materials, including a cellulose nitrate based eyeglass frame, but the artificial eyes are made of glass. Synthetics began to be widely used for making of artificial eyes in 1940s. Ironically, prior to WWII, most glass artificial eyes were made in Germany, using methods not well known or understood in N. America. It was largely because of hostilities with Germany that research into the use of synthetics for the making of artificial eyes was accelerated. Glass artificial eyes must be blown in a flame, are extremely fragile, and when completed can not be polished or altered in any way. (Ref. 4)

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

"DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS/ OPHTHALMIC DIVISION/ ARTIFICIAL EYE MAKING/ IN ITS VARIOUS STAGES" printed by hand in white ink on large black paper label mounted in top centre front of case. Individual components identified by numbers, with key providing details. Keys [top left to top right] read: "PLASTICS/ 1. - EYE/ 2. CONTACT LENS/ 3. MUEL'S GLOBE/ 4. MUEL'S GLOBE, ELASTIC PLASTIC/ 5. SOFT ACYRYLIC IMPLANT"; "1. TUBULAR GLASS/ 2. FIRST STAGE of DRAWING THE BULB/ 3. SHAPING THE BULB/ 4. THE BULB FLATTENED"; "5. FIRST STAGE OF MAKING THE IRIS/ 6. VARIATION IN IRIS AND PUPIL ADDED/ 7. GLASS CORNEA DEVELOPED/ 8. IRIS FINISHED, CAPILLARIES ADDED", "9. CONICAL PROJECTION OF BULB/ 10. FINISHING OUTER AREA FOR SHELL EYE/ 11. BULB PREPARED FOR 'REFORM' EYE/ 12. 'REFORM' EYE HALF COMPLETED"; "13. 'REFORM' EYE FINISHED/ 14. BACK OF REFORM EYE/ 15. FRONT OF SHELL EYE/ 16. BACK OF SHELL EYE"; "17. BASE FOR CENTRALIZING THE IRIS/ 18. SHELL FOR STRETCHING THE SOCKET/ 19. FOR COLOR MATCHING"; "20. MUEL'S GLOBE, USED at the TIME of/ OPERATION to GIVE MOVEMENT to ART'L EYE/ 21. COLORS USED in DEVELOPMENT OF IRIS"; and "PLASTICS/ No - A FACIAL MASK, UNASSEMBLED/ No 2- FACIAL MASK, ASSEMBLED".

Missing

2 coloured glass rods missing from display case. Eyeglass frame ( or 'facial mask') originally fitted to display removed by CMST Conservation staff: please see 2002.0437.2. Label within display suggests that there were 2 masks, but it does not appear possible that more than one could be accommodated within display case parameters, and there is no physical evidence that a 2nd mask was ever mounted on board.

Finish

Wooden display case has glass front; metal hardware & fittings. Glass & synthetic prosthesis material secured to heavy paper board using metal wire; handwritten labels printed on heavy paper stock.

Decoration

N/A