Ophthalmia neonatorum : especially in reference to its prevention / by W. G. Sym.

  • Sym, William George, 1864-1938
Date:
[1894]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Ophthalmia neonatorum : especially in reference to its prevention / by W. G. Sym. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by UCL Library Services. The original may be consulted at UCL (University College London)

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    OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM, ESPECIALLY IN liEFERENCE TO ITS PREVENTION. By W. G. SYM, M.D, F.R.C.S. Eu. {Read before, the Medico-Ohirurgical Society of Edinburgh, ith March 1896 ; and reprinted from the Edinburgh Medical Journal for May 1896.) There are two points in connexion with ophthalmia neonatorum to which I wish to direct your attention this evening. Tlie first of these—and on this portion of my subject I shall be very brief—is in regard to its treatment and imdical prevention. There is a great similarity, but a great number of minor differences between the various applications used in the treatment of the con- dition. Practically all surgeons and obstetricians seem to be agreed that what should be done is the free washing away of any discharge with an antiseptic solution, and the painting of the inflamed con- junctiva with a stronger antiseptic and astringent. By common consent, nitrate of silver solution is employed for the latter purpose in varying strengths of from 2 to 5 per cent.; but some employ the mitigated (Clievallereau, 1^), and a few even the pure (Desmarres, 1) stick. As a lotion, corrosive sublimate is now the favourite; but others used by various surgeons are—chlorine water, which is highly spoken of, and probably with justice, by Burchhardt (2) ; biniodide of mercury, by Illingworth ; quinine, 1-25 per cent., by Reich-Hollender (3); hydrastin (4), and more particularly formol. [The employment of formol for this purpose was, I believe, first advocated by Valude (5), who considers it superior to corrosive sublimate lotion.] Fromaget and BarabacheflF (6) employ it in a strength of 1 to 2000 as a lotion, and in a solution of 1 to 200-as a pigment. In the adult the application of these stronger solutions is exceedmgly painful. Kalt (1) of Paris warmly recommends Condy's fluid (1 to 5000), and appears to obtain good results, though otliers do not agree with him ; but I suspect the explanation of his success is that by means of a neat little laveur he is enabled to attain to a more thorough cleansing of the conjunctival sac than is usually brought about. And this leads me to say that I believe the secret of