Astley Cooper and Benjamin Travers were two of the most influential surgeons of the early 19th century. They jointly wrote a book entitled ‘Surgical Essays’, which was published in 1818. The essays were on a variety of subjects such as dislocation, wounds, ligatures on the aorta and an essay on tumours. The two volume book contained only a single essay on an eye related subject by Benjamin Travers. Both volumes are included in the antiquarian library of The Royal College of Ophthalmologists. A third volume with another essay on an ophthalmic subject written by Travers was intended but never materialised.

The 40 page essay by Travers, consisting mainly of case histories was on the subject of …