A dictionary of practical surgery: comprehending all the most interesting improvements, from the earliest times down to the present period : an account of the instruments, remedies and applications employed in surgery : the etymology and signification of the principal terms : ... forming together a "catalogue raisonné" of surgical literature (Volume 1).

  • Samuel Cooper
Date:
1823
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A dictionary of practical surgery: comprehending all the most interesting improvements, from the earliest times down to the present period : an account of the instruments, remedies and applications employed in surgery : the etymology and signification of the principal terms : ... forming together a "catalogue raisonné" of surgical literature (Volume 1). Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    IMAUKOSte. eyesight. After em] .-niach anil bowels, it is proper to prescribe the de- coction of bark with valerian, or the infu- -ion of quassia with the addition of a few drops of sulphuric ether to each dose, with nourishing, easily digestible food. The aromatic .spirituous vapours (mentioned in the article Ophlhalmy) may then be topi- cally applied ; or if these prove ineffectual, the vapour of liquor ammonia;. The pa- tient must take exercise on foot, horseback, or in a carriage, in a wholesome, dry air, in warm weather, and avail himself of sea- bathing. He must avoid all thoughts of care, and refrain from fixing his eyes on minute shining objects. In proportion as the energy of the nervous system returns, and the constitution is strengthened, the it is restored. In order to preserve and improve this useful sense, the patient must I I, above all things, every measure cal- culated to maintain the tone of the stomach, and moderate the impression of light on the retina. This object can easily be fulfilled by always wearing flat green glasses before the eyes, in a vivid light. (Saggio di Osser- MV. Cap. 19.) When the weakness is confined to the only, Richter thinks the topical em- ployment of corroborant applications alone necessary. Bathing the eye with cold wa- ter, says he, is one of the most powerful means of strengthening the eye. The pa- tient should dip in cold water a compress, doubled into eight folds, and sufficiently large to cover the whole face and forehead, and this he should keep applied, as long as it continues cold. Or, else, he should fre- Jiuently apply cold water to his eyes and ace with his hand, on a piece of rag. The eye may also be strengthened by re- peatedly applying blisters of a semi-lunar shape above the eyebrows, just long enough to excite redness. Richter likewise speaks favourably of rubbing the upper eyelid, several times a day, with a mixture of the tinctura lyttae and spiritus serpilli, great care being taken, that none of the application come into contact with the eye itself. Spi- rituous and aromatic remedies in general, are also proper. (Anfangsgr der Wundars B. 3, p. 452.) When no probable cause whatsoever can be assigned for the disease, the surgeon is justified in employing such remedies, as have been proved by experience to be sometimes capable of relieving the affection, although upon what principle is utterly unknown. The chief means of this kind are emetics given in small doses, so as to excite nausea' and occasionally in larger ones, in order to produce vomiting; Schmuckers pills the composition of which has been already de- scribed, sometimes assisted with the exhibi- tion of arnica and valerian ; preparations of mercury either alone, or in conjunction with sarsaparilla, cicuta, or sulphur auratum antimonii; valerian in powder, either alone or joined with decoction of bark, containing either subcarbonate of ammonia, or sul- phuric ether; Pulsatilla, in the form of an extract or au infusion ; the extractuni h)u.~ cj ami albi, with or without antimonial wine, and various other medicines and ap- plications, which will be considered under the head Gutta Serena. To this article, I would refer the reader, before he makes up his mind about any empirical method of treatment, because he will there find many cautions and instructions given by Beer re- specting the remedies for amaurosis in gene- ral. To his remarks, I have also annexed such others on the same topic, as appeared to me interesting. In the following view of amaurosis, chiefly taken from the valuable writings of Prof. Beer, the reader will find a more complete history of the different forms of the disease, and their varieties, than has previously been drawn up in our language. The only points, on which Beer perhaps ventures too far, are those relating to the etiology of the several cases; a subject, in which he dis- plays the usual credulity of the continental surgeons. With his observations, I have taken the liberty to blend a few additional remarks, not caring about the length of the article, where the matter seemed new and interesting. 1. OF THE DIFFERENT FORMS OF AMAUROSIS IN GENERAL. Beer reckons four species of amaurosis. The first is a genuine uncomplicated amaurosis, the characteristic symptom of which consists peculiarly and entirely in an impairment or loss of vision, without any morbid change in the organic matter of the eye. Secondly ; there is an amaurosis, which, besides being attended with a diminution, or total loss of vision, is also accompanied with appearances of disease in the organic matter of the eye. Thirdly ; there is another amaurosis, in which, together with the above principal symptom, viz. weakness, or loss of sight, there are also morbid phenomena exhibited in the form of the eye in general, or its particular textures, and especially in the action of the irritable parts. Lastly ; Beer says, he can often poim an amaurosis, in which all the charact> tic symptoms of the three preceding cases are more or less combined. (See Lekre von den Augenkr. B. 2, p. 478.) Professor Beer's First Species of Amaurosis. The genuine uncomplicated amaurosis, consisting of a mere diminution or loss of sight, without the appearance of any other defect, is one of the most uncommon forms ot complaint, not only because singly ope- rS CnnSeS,arei?W' b«* because they can nerves. PatC ^^ UPon ^ V'c In the true uncomplicated amaurosis merely the vital qualities of the 0pHc nerve and retina are affected, and after§C8tjf!