IV PREFACE 



for the remainder of their lives. In the year they first met, 

 Helmholtz had invented the ophthalmoscope, whereby, as von 

 Graefe said, a new world became opened up for exploration. 

 In the same year Dr. A. Cramer, working under Donders' 

 guidance, by observing alterations in curvature in the anterior 

 surface of the lens, discovered the seat of accommodative 

 power, while Bowman, but a few years previously, had 

 demonstrated the muscular character of what had up to 

 that time been regarded as the ciliary ligament. 



So great was Donders' regard for Bowman that he dedi- 

 cated his epoch-making book to him in the following glowing 

 terms : 



" To William Bowman, F.R.S., whose merits in the advance- 

 ment of physiology and ophthalmology are equally recog- 

 nized and honored in every country, this work on the 

 Anomalies of Refraction and Accommodation is in testimony 

 of the warmest friendship and of esteem inscribed by the 

 author." 



When, in 1880, the Ophthalmologic^ Society of the United 

 Kingdom was instituted, Bowman was naturally elected 

 its first president. He held the post for three years and 

 manifested the greatest interest in the society 's progress and 

 prosperity. In 1883, the. council of the society passed the 

 following resolution : " That in recognition of Mr. Bowman 's 

 distinguished scientific position in ophthalmology and other 

 branches of medicine, and in commemoration of his valuable 

 services to the Ophthalmological Society, of which he was 

 the first president, the council shall each year, or periodi- 

 cally, nominate some person to deliver a lecture before the 

 society, to be called The Bowman Lecture, which shall 

 consist of a critical resume of recent advances in ophthal- 

 mology or in such subject or subjects as the council shall 

 select, or of any original investigation, and shall be delivered 



