Time Machine: Chapter 34
November 27, 2025
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2 min
7 Key Takeaways
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1
Cataract surgery transitioned from couching to extraction in 1750.
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2
Jacques Daviel documented the first planned cataract extraction.
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3
Jean Baseilhac began cataract extractions in July 1750 but had poor techniques.
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4
Natale Pallucci also experimented with cataract extraction techniques.
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5
Daviel's animal experiments began on July 7, 1750, in Leuven.
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6
Frère Côme was innovative in lithotomy but not in ophthalmology.
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7
The debate over the first cataract extraction continues among these surgeons.
The evolution of ophthalmology in cataract surgery began with Jacques Daviel's documented cataract extraction on September 18, 1750, in Cologne. This transition from traditional couching to extraction was influenced by three Paris-based surgeons in July 1750, notably Jean Baseilhac, Natale Pallucci, and Daviel himself. Baseilhac's technique was criticized, while Pallucci made strides with lens fragment removal. However, it was Daviel who ultimately gained recognition for documenting the method and sharing his insights, marking a revolution in ocular surgery techniques.
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