Volume 1

The American encyclopedia and dictionary of ophthalmology / edited by Casey A. Wood, assisted by a large staff of collaborators.

Date:: 1913-1921

Credit: The American encyclopedia and dictionary of ophthalmology / edited by Casey A. Wood, assisted by a large staff of collaborators. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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$a number of months, it will accomplish the purpose in the majority of cases. Eversbusch freely treats all forms of membranous conjunctivitis, including both the so-called croupous, pseudomembranous and diph- theric varieties with fresh lemon juice filtered through j^aper and instilled with a glass rod from one to three times daily. The juice does not irritate but seems to act merely as an astringent. For ex- ample, if to the acid juice a small quantity of pure glycerine is added, it penetrates the false membrane more easily. The addition of a 1 per cent, solution of morphia prevents the otherwise dis- agreeable burning sensations set up by the acid and glycerine. AVhen the diphtheric infiltration of the conjunctiva is deep it is better to apply the lemon juice directly on the everted lids or affected area, rubbing it in while the patient is under a general anesthetic. Acid, Dichloracetic. Bichlor.\cetic acid. Urner’s liquid chloracetic ACID. C2H2CI2O2. A colorless liquid, soluble in water and alcohol. Like the other ehloracetic acids it acts Avell Avhen applied undi- luted as an escharotic for the removal of warts and other groAvths from the lids. In corneal ulcer it has been found very useful as a cauterant, applied by means of a tooth-pick soaked in it, after stain- ing and cocainization. Acid, Digallic. See Tannin. Acid, Diiodosalicylic. See Sanoform. Acid, Formic. This peculiar agent, whose formula is H„ CO,, occurs naturally in red ants [hence its name {formica), an ant] in muscle, in stinging nettles and in some mineral waters. It is a colorless, sharp-smelling liquid, AAdiich crystallizes at O'^C., melts at 8.6'^C., and boils at 100.8'^C. It mixes freely Avith Avater, ether and alcohol. It readily decomposes and forms salts called formates. Formic acid is rarely used in ophthalmic practice, but A. S. Per- cival {Ophthalmic Feview, Nov., 1910) has reported good results from its internal administration in miner’s nystagmus, even in pa- tients who continue their Avork underground. M. Ohlemann gives his observations on this subject based upon his experience in the mining districts near Bochum, Westphalia. He chose tAveU'e cases, all men who Avere off Avork, and treated all of them Avith formic acid in doses similar to those mentioned by Pereival, for a period of three weeks; but the treatment Avas unsuccessful in every instance. He believes that in every ease in Avhich improvement is noted in this anomaly the change is due to giving up underground Avork, and the enjoyment of a period of rest, folloAved by Avork above ground. In examining patients in this stage (after complete cessation of mining$