The last important English work on opthalmology published before the invention of the ophthalmoscope. Jones did not appreciate the prototype ophthalmoscope devised by Charles Babbage, and shown to him in 1847. After the success of Helmholtz’s invention (No. 5866) Jones wrote about Babbage’s invention and his role in discouraging it. See No. 5874.

Jones reported that Charles Babbage (1792-1871), the computer pioneer, had produced a simple ophthalmoscope in 1847. After the success of Helmholtz’s instrument in 1851 (No. 5866) Jones wrote about Babbage’s instrument and of his role in discouraging it. See No. 5862.