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Based on numerous microscopical slides from two eyes from two patients suffering from 'inflammatory' glaucoma Christian Frederik Heerfordt (1871-1953) put forward his very original theory in 1910-14: Some cases of intractable glaucoma are caused by occlusion of one (or two) vortex veins, sometimes with a flap, a sino-scleral plate into the sinus (ampulla). Surgical treatment could be iridectomy in the sector with the occlusion, or perhaps better by blood- letting of the occluded vortex- vein. Heerfordts theory was damned by the Danish Ophthalmological Society as unscientific and the messages in the Danish newspapers unethical. The consequences for science and for Heerfordt personally are discussed. LA: Danish
Dr. M. Norn, Medicinsk Museion, Kobenhavns Universitet, Denmark