Cataract in the Madras presidency Southern India : with a tabular statement of five hundred cases / by T. H. Pope.

  • Pope, Thomas H. (Thomas Henry)
Date:
1896
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Cataract in the Madras presidency Southern India : with a tabular statement of five hundred cases / by T. H. Pope. 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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    In the chronic stage, however, when there is no pain, and an absence of all symptoms referrible to active mischief, I have operated successfully, and with good results, by using the ordi- nary antiseptic precautions employed in all other cases, accom- panied by gentle brushing of the everted lower lid with a solution of silver nitrate (strength 3 to 5 grains to i ounce of distilled water). This solution seems to diffuse itself over the corneal surface when the eye is closed after operation, and produces a healthy stimulation which leads to very satisfactory closure of the corneal wound. The brushing is repeated each morning when the eye is washed and dressed, until union has occurred. The normal eye of the Brahmin is as a rule a typically fine organ; its different structures are of a fine texture, its appearance is bright and clear, and operations when performed lead to most satisfactory results. ' Flesh-eating Hindus' form the largest class of patients attending hospital. They include most of the other castes, e.g. Moodeliars, Naidus, Chetties, Pillais, and Sudras. These are more robust than Brahmins, possess more muscular develop- ment, but are not so generally healthy. I think I should be right in describing them as 'coarsely-muscular' Hindus as con- trasted with the ' finely-nerved' Brahmins. They are much darker skinned and more coarsely featured. The various struc- tures of the eye are in them often very healthy, but of an inferior type to that of the Brahmin. The sclerotic coat is not so white, the ocular conjunctiva is often congested and stained brown, and the lids thick and coarse. Operations, however, are followed by excellent results even amongst this class, but possibly not with so much certainty of a happy result. Class (D), Pariahs. These are natives of the lowest class having no caste principles. They eat all kinds of food ; are as a rule intemperate, not very particular about personal cleanli- ness ; and inasmuch as their means of livelihood is by manual labour, meagrely paid for, they are essentially poor. Amongst them is the class of domestic servants who are facetiously considered as being of the same caste as their masters. In point of health and constitution one meets with every degree, varying
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