Atlas of the external diseases of the eye : including a brief treatise on the pathology and treatment / by O. Haab ; Authorized translation from the German, edited by G.E. de Schweinitz.

Haab O. (Otto), 1850-1931.

Date:: 1899

Credit: Atlas of the external diseases of the eye : including a brief treatise on the pathology and treatment / by O. Haab ; Authorized translation from the German, edited by G.E. de Schweinitz. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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$choroiditis which soinctiincs ap[)car during the later stages of the disease have no signiticance. The diagtiosis is materially sim[)litied by the fact that ])arene.hymatoiis keratitis never undergoes ulceration, dif- fering in this respect from eczematous inflammation of the cornea. It is of the highest importance to be able to distinguish the disease from glaucoma, which in rare in- stances occurs in childhood ; an error in this I’espect might entail fatal consequences. In both diseases there is a faint cloudiness of the cornea ; but in keratitis the opac- ity is irregularly distributed in spots, while the haze of glaucoma is uniform and diffuse, and usually less marked than in keratitis. Definite information can be obtained by testing the tension, if necessary under anesthesia. Prognosis.—This is unfavorable in so far as we are unable to remove the inflammation or ])revent its occur- rence in the other eye. The prosjiect of vision being eventually restored is, ho\vever, fairly good, recovery is ]>ractically perfect in many cases, and almost always a serviceable deg-ree of visual acuitv is rerained. Treatment.—This, in the first jdace and in all cases, must include a tonic regimen ; in the second j)lace, pro- vided thev do not interfere with dio-cstion, the milder iodids, and finally the careful use of mercury ; the latter drug, however, is not so efficacious as in the inflamma- tions of acquired syphilis. The local treatment in the early stages should consist of atropin and dark glasses to relieve the irritative symj)toms. Later hot fomenta- tions are to be applied ; and if it is tolerated, after a time yellow oxid of mercury salve may be rubbed into the eye. The oxid can be incorporated with ungt. amylo-glycerin, 0.1-0.2 in 10.0, or with vaseliii, 0.2-0.5 in iO.O, aj)plied with a glass rod and well rubbed over the surface of the cornea with the closed lid, once a day or every other day. It may not be borne until late in the disease, but its continued use materially hastens the clearing of the opacity. [In addition to the tonic regimen, which should include cod-liver oil, arsenic, iron, etc., according to the$