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On Sept. 15, 1884, this preliminary report on the "Introduction of Cocaine as an Anesthetic for the Eye," was read by Dr. Brettauer, for the author, Dr. Carl Koller, at the meeting of the German Ophthalmological Society, at Heidelberg. At the suggestion of Dr. J. W. Nordenson, of Stockholm, a translation of the original publication is herewith brought to the attention of the readers of the Archives of Ophthalmology, in commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of this epoch-making discovery, and as a small tribute to Dr. Koller.
It is a well known fact that the alkaloid cocaine, which is obtained from cocoa leaves (Erythroxylon coca), makes the mucous membrane of the throat and mouth anesthetic when brought in contact with it, and this led me to investigate the action of this agent on the eye. I have reached the following conclusions :
After a few drops of cocaine hydrochloride (I used