A dictionary of practical medicine: comprising general pathology, the nature and treatment of diseases, morbid structures, and the disorders especially incidental to climates, to the sex, and to the different forms of life : with numerous prescriptions for the medicines recommended, a classification of diseases according to pathological principles, a copious bibliography, with references, and an appendix of approved formulae : the whole forming a library of pathology and practical medicine and a digest of medical literature (Volume 3).
- James Copland
- Date:
- 1834-59
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: A dictionary of practical medicine: comprising general pathology, the nature and treatment of diseases, morbid structures, and the disorders especially incidental to climates, to the sex, and to the different forms of life : with numerous prescriptions for the medicines recommended, a classification of diseases according to pathological principles, a copious bibliography, with references, and an appendix of approved formulae : the whole forming a library of pathology and practical medicine and a digest of medical literature (Volume 3). 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.)
![rilla, sulphate of quinine, decoction of bark with liquor potassae, the compound myrrh mixture, the iodide of potassium, and by small doses of the bichloride of mercury in tincture of bark. As this variety often continues many months, perseverance in the use of these means, and changes from the one to the other, a dry, warm air, and change of air, with attention to the state of the digestive organs, and a carefully regulated diet, are most requisite. [The influence of mercury in checking the inflammation and restoring the transparency of the part is often strikingly manifested, and, after suitable depletory measures, should never be neglected; and especially is this article in- dicated where the iris participates in the affec- tion. In feeble constitutions, even local deple- tion may not be borne well; here tonics, as iron, quinine, and the different preparations of iodine, as the iodide of iron, are the articles on which most dependance is to be placed. A nutritious diet of animal food will often prove advantageous, especially in the scrofulous va- riety.] III. Inflammation of the Internal Parts of the Eve. Syn.—Internal Ophthalmia, Oph- thalmitis Interna, Auct. var. 111. Defin.—Inflammation of one or more of the internal tissues of the eye, occurring cither pri- marily, or consecutively of external disease, and attended by impaired vision, and frequently by constitutional disorder. 112. In diseases of the internal eye, artificial dilatation of the pupil is necessary, both to the investigation of their nature and extent, and to their treatment. Mr. Lawrence has given a learned account of the agents by which dilata- tion may be accomplished. Various narcotic vegetables possess this power, but belladonna in the highest degree. The tincture, extract, decoction, infusion, or powder of this plant may be employed for this purpose, either in- ternally, or dropped into the eye, or rubbed on the brow or temple. Hyoscyamus is the next powerful substance. An aqueous solution of the extracts of either may be rubbed or placed upon the eyelids, or parts in the vicinity, and washed off after remaining for about an hour; or it may be dropped into the eye, when a speedy and certain effect is desired. i. Inflammation of the Anterior Chamber. Svn. — Inflammation of the Capsule of the Aqueous Humour, Wardrop ; Aquo-Capsuli- tis, Mackenzie ; Kerato-iritis, Rosas ; In- flammation of the Anterior Chamber, Law- rence. 113. Char act.—Diffused muddiness, or mot- tled appearance of the cornea, dimness of vision, fulness and tension of the eye, dulness of the iris, slightly contracted pupil, headache, white tongue, and fever. 114. Inflammation of the membrane of the aqueous humour is often consequent upon the varieties of ophthalmia already described ; but it is also a primary disease, and is most com- mon in this form among children. It cannot be considered, even when primary, to be con- fined to the anterior chamber, or to this mem- brane. The posterior chamber, the cornea, and iris evidently are also affected, more or less. External inflammation involving the cor- nea may extend to the anterior chamber and #to the iris; or inflammation may commence in the latter, and spread over this cavity to the cornea, and either adhesion of the iris to the cornea or hypopyon be produced. Primary in- flammation of this membrane presents the usu- al phenomena of inflamed serous surfaces, viz., effusion of albuminous or coagulating lymph, or of a serous fluid, and very rarely of pus, the first of these sometimes becoming organized into morbid adhesions. 115. A. Symptoms.—The anterior chamber is cloudy, the iris becomes dull and dark, its sur- face assumes a reddish-brown tinge, the red- dish tint being most evident in light eyes, and the pupil is somewhat contracted. The cornea loses its transparency, becomes nebulous or mottled, sometimes with an ulcer in its sur- face. There is but little external redness, ex- cepting a pink zone around the cornea. An ef- fusion of whitish or yellowish matter takes place in the anterior chamber, and the patient complains of pain and aching in the eye and forehead, of fulness or tightness in the organ, and of intolerance of light, especially early in the complaint; these symptoms subsiding at more advanced periods. Its progress in chil- dren is not rapid. Mr. Wardrop considers the opacity to be seated in the internal surface of the cornea, and that it arises from a number of round specks, which give a mottled appear- ance to this part, particularly in adults. He also believes the effusion into the chamber, which has been generally considered pus, to be albuminous, and similar to that which causes adhesions, but not coagulable.* 116. B. Hi/popyoni—or the presence of a yel- lowish matter in the anterior chamber, resem- bling, and usually called, pus, and attending or consequent upon inflammation—accompanies the affection now under consideration. But it more frequently supervenes, in the advanced course of inflammation of the external coats, from the bursting of an abscess in the cornea. It may also occur from iritis, particularly if an abscess of this part burst into the anterior chamber. Inflammation, however, of the mem- brane of this chamber is common to all these affections in a consecutive or associated form. When matter is effused behind as well as be- fore the iris, it constitutes empyesis oculi, or suppuration of the eye. Various forms and di- visions of hypopyon have been devised by Beer, Richter, Benedict, and Juengken, but they do not deserve notice, as they lead not to any practical result, and as this is not a peculiar disease, but the result of inflammatory action consecutively or primarily affecting the mem- * [Dr. Hays gives the following case of inflammation of the membrane of the aqueous humour : Eliza Williams, a coloured woman, aged twenty,ap- plied at the Pennsylvania Eye Infirmary, April 6,1826. Her sight had been growing dim for several days, and she suffered slight pain in her eye. On the most minute examination, no change from a healthy state could be perceived, except, perhaps, an extremely faint dulness, situated at the poste- rior part of the cornea, the cornea itself being evidently un^ affected. After some days a small spot became evident, and was shortly followed by two others, differing, both in situation and appearance, from the opacities produced from: inflammation of the cornea. They were deep-seated, and evidently produced by the effusion of lymph on the inner surface of the cornea, giving it the appearance of being; mottled with white. The margins of these spots were well defined, and the lamina of lymph so thin as not to produce perfect opacity. These spots remained permanent.—(Notet to Lawrence on the Eye, p. 307,3(18.)] t [Eitcr-augc of the Germans ; from vno, under, and Truov>. pus,]](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21111017_0013.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
