Treatise on the diseases of the eye : including the anatomy of the organ / by Carl Stellwag von Carion ; tr. from the 3rd German ed. and ed. by Charles E. Hackley and D.B. St. John Roosa ; with an appendix by the editors.
- Karl Stellwag von Carion
- Date:
- 1870
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Treatise on the diseases of the eye : including the anatomy of the organ / by Carl Stellwag von Carion ; tr. from the 3rd German ed. and ed. by Charles E. Hackley and D.B. St. John Roosa ; with an appendix by the editors. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.
110/810 page 88
![It is true that the production of such a condition of irritation is indispensable to a true therapeutic result, and that the most powerful known absorbents, quick- silver, iodine, &c, refuse to act when not applied directly to the cornea and con- junctiva. The remedies most frequently used are, dusting in calomel, applications of salve of yellow and red oxyd of mercury, iodine salve and laudanum, instillations of astringent collyria, slight cauterization of the conjunctiva with sulphate of cop- per or solution of niti'ate of silver. Formerly, for the same purpose, they conducted steam to the eye by means of a funnel; dropped warm mucilage of quince seeds or mallows into the conjunctival sac, or applied with a brush fine oil or fat, ox or fish-gall, eels'liver oil, viper-fat, bear-fat, &c, and solutions of va- rious extracts. The above-mentioned substances were especially popular as preparatory remedies, as it was claimed that the parts were softened, and the efficacy of the resorbents increased thereby. (Heer.) Empyreumatic and etherial oils, such as juniper-berry, paper-oil, sal-volatile, &c, were formerly much used. Electricity was once quite fashionable for these affections. A current was passed through the upper lid or the cornea itself, and some other part of the body, the copper pole being placed over the eye, the zinc pole to the tongue or hand (Cntsell). But the remedy acts no better than the above-mentioned, and may be dispensed with. Acupuncture, where the needle is placed directly in the cornea, is dangerous. All these, and many other remedies, when properly used, are very serviceable in certain cases. If some of them are more in use than others, it is perhaps not be- cause of any peculiarity of their action, but on account of their more easy applica- tion, and especially the possibility of measuring and controlling their action. Hence, dusting in of calomel, on account of its slight irritation, is especially suitable in fresh macuke, and where the eye is sensitive and inflammations are to be feared. The salve of yellow oxyd of mercury is preferable where we require a powerful effect, and the irritability of the eye is moderate. Astringent collyria are best where there is catarrhal relaxation of the conjunctiva. Cauterization with crystals of sul- phate of copper, or solutions of nitrate of silver, are indicated in complication of the corneal opacities with hypertrophy of the conjunctiva. It is generally well to begin the treatment with weak remedies, and in case of need, to increase the strength or pass to more active applications. If the eye reacts not at all, or only slightty, after the use of the remedy, the strength must be increased, or a more active application resorted to. Frequently, after the continued use of a sufficiently strong remedy, it ceases to irritate the eye. It is then well to discontinue it fir a time, so as to let the susceptibility return, when it will again act well. In some case*, also, we may increase the susceptibility by warm applications and cataplasms. In deep, non-vascular corneal opacities, remaining after diffuse keratitis, it has been recom- mended to inject a solution of chloride of sodium (one-third of one drachm to one oz. water), under the conjunctiva every three or four weeks. This may be done with a hypodermic syringe, and is said to act well and without danger. {Rothmund.) [In a recent memoir to the French Academy, M. de Luca recommends the application of finely- powdered sulphate of soda directly to the cornea. He claims that it has the power of removing corneal spots in an almost incredibly short space of time.] It is very important to restrain the irritation excited by the remedy within cer- tain bounds. If the irritation is not great, it is-sufficient to keep the patient, during its continuance, in a moderately illuminated chamber, and carefully to keep off all possible cause for its increase, as straining of the eyes, smoking, &c. In intense](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b2107902x_0110.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
