title: Historical perspectives on photocoagulation.
abstract: Benjamin Franklin may share a prominent place in the history of photocoagulation. He devised an uncomplicated experiment showing the effect of color on the absorption of light by solids and its conversion into heat motion of the molecules. His experiment and the related experiments of others leading ultimately to the development of photocoagulation techniques are discussed.
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D000818:Animals; D003116:Color; D005126:Eye Burns / Q000209:etiology; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D008028:Light Coagulation / Q000266:history*; D012173:Retinitis / Q000209:etiology; D013472:Sunlight; D014978:Xenon
chemical_list: D014978:Xenon