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

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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$^i.MROSL- certain general and local causes are inces- santly operating upon the eyes; such as long grief affecting a very sensible mind ; excess in wine ; sleepless nights, occasioned by care or fear; Straining the eyes, either by too much reading, particularly at candle- amaurosis- light, or by any of tho fine kinds of work unwlu ' some sorts of food ; and want of good It in the first stage, there u scarcely any hope of preserving the sight, where the causes of the disease are appa- rently known, how little expectation of can be entertained in the second here the causes are involved in per- feci obscurity, and are probably in some usuallv done by women; bad, unwbole- measure dependent upon a propensitrto want of good air, gout existing in the constitution from child- 5 hood. Indeed, when the natient is livmg under the influence of such circumstances, The causes of the second form of gouty as m.e knovvn to promote gout, certain amaurosis, says Beer, are the same as those ijiintJriess may be predicted. The same of gout in general, which, however, are lennmatjon may also be foretold, without very imperfectly known. Whatever in cer Jain individuals has the effect of promoting, or actually bringing on an attack of gout, may excite this amaurosis, especially, when at the same time hurtful or debilitating cir- cumstances are affecting or have been af- fectingthe eyes. It is to be recollected, any chance of error, when glaucoma is evi- deiitly present; and, though a weak power of vision be yet left, this will soon be for ever lost. It is doing a great deal in these cases to free the patient from intolerable pain, and, by active resistance to gout, per- haps, still preserve the other eye, where however, says Beer, that just in the same ()]is .g |lot yf.t affectecj; or not in a seriouJ manner as few of the individuals, exposed to the influence of these last circumstances, are attacked with gout, so few gouty sub- jects are alHictcd with this amaurosis, and, consequently in both cases, a certain pre- disposition to such disease, already existing degree. But if the practitioner And, when he is first consulted, that the green or glau- comatous cataract is already formed, there is then not the slightest chance of obviating the pain, which ordinarily continues, until the eye is completely wasted away, and in the eyes, seems essent.al to its produc- fhe fissure of l|]e ,ids ,ms perma'nenfl Hon. According to Beer, such individuals sunk in the orbit and closed. as have been afflicted with Bcronhu a or With ct to the treatment of the rickets in their youth are very liable to second st of gouty amaurosis, Beer ob- <rr>nt ivhim thou orrtw nlripr • nun. savs he. .. . .. . ° . ,•', ... . ' . colour, especially when they have been adopted The atient ghou,d not ,ie much debilitated ... the earlier part of bfe feather bed no» cia„ feather UIo' by immoderate exertion. but on]y emp,oy artifdes 0/thig kind%,hich' In the first degree of gouty amaurosis, are stuffed with horse hair. Neither must he Beer observes, that the slightest glance at expose himself to an atmosphere, which is the etiology of the case must show, how at the same time both cold and damp; and, unfavourable the prognosis is; for, notwith- if he cannot altogether take care of bim- standing the disease frequently requires ma- self in this respect, at all events let him ny years to be completely formed,,and the keep his head and feet warm and dry; causes are by no means so obscure, as in shun every thing which tends to impede the second degree of the disorder, yet, they the functions of the skin ; and avoid pork- are generally such as absolutely cannot be meat, every thing cooked with hog's lard, removed, because interwoven, as it were, and very acid salt dishes, like herrings, with the constitution In fact the surgeon With what are usually considered as eout- ...... .„.„.,,._„. .^,,.^.^0. ^- miouiu pay close attent on to the state o cording to Beer, the apothecary's maga- the constitution, rather seeking to afford re- fines contain no remedies, which are ade- lief by means of a well-regulated diet than quate to the cure of this amaurosis. A to- bv thi Pmnlnvm.ni f i l ■ tal change of the whole constitution wodd With Si■ P ^ • . be requisite, ere success could be expected be el/ amaurosis, says Beer, .s to and surh rliano-e it is nntimhll' f' classed an amaurotic, rapid y formed, nhvsict^accomnli b The nrartuS™0' C.°mplete blid»^s of both eyes, which b $£l£^T£^^n$Z™?,.'?*7 the immediate result of a sudden violent notwithstanding every exe tient usually falls into a state and irremediable blindness, in one exai pie only Beer has succeeded in checking the disease, by persuading the patient to ob- serve a strict regimen, not a grain of me- dicine being given ; but the patient still re- mains weak-sighted, though various medi- cines have latterly been tried. The following are Beer's observations on , prognosis in the second stage of gouty form of the eveVthere\vTno,rUCture and jen mere was not previously rtton Pi ' ' ffhV but on'y takes P'ace « such indi- e of'rnrneniP,a Vti^ I are cessi™ly nervous and irri- In one *£t' ^ *?* m°/e or less P™* to or actually ■ affected with gout. The most striking enect, which characterizes this conse- quence of arthritic amaurosis, is that cnange wh.ch is instantaneously produced in the structure and form of the eve at the whtn XlsT^^-^ **™> «$

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