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

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.

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$the use of this bandage, furnishes real therapeutic advantages, and whether the result, which in in- dividual cases may be thereby attained, balances the disadvantages, which in very many instances are absolutely intolerable. It seems as if the ordinary protective bandage, with a somewhat greater tension of the elastic part of it, were able to accomplish all that is to be generally expected from a pressure bandage, without excessive annoyance and without danger of unpleas- ant consequeuces. [It is more than probable that the true function of the bandage would be better expressed by using the name retentive bandage, thus indicating the most important agency which the dressing fulfills, namely, to keep the eye-lids closed, the air ex- cluded ; and in the case of a wound of the front of the eye-ball, to give a splint- like support.] 2. The effects of dust upon the conjunctiva and cornea.—Working with dusty substances, or frequenting dusty localities during the existence of conjunctival or corneal disease, should be strictly forbidden, since the mechanical contrivances used for excluding dust fail to accomplish the purpose. [This rule must not be construed into a prohibition of outdoor life as a means of keeping active the nutritive forces, especially in obstinate forms of sub-acute con- junctiva] and corneal disease.] a. Bust-Spectacles, Goggles.—Wire-work, in spectacle frames, was at one time used as such, and culled by this name. These dust-spectacles have the disadvantage of keeping the eye behind them continually en- veloped in the vapor of its own moisture, which can not fully escape. Thus the irritated condi- tion is rather increased than diminished. The principal reason for their disuse lies, however, in the impairment of distinct cision, which compels the patient to strain his eyes severely in order to see surrounding objects distinctly. By the wire-work considerable objective light is kept away from the eye, and the frame of the dust-spectacles places the translucent gauze in an unfavorable angle to the outer world, thus limiting the visual field. Moreover the manifold diffraction which the transmitted light undergoes on the wire gauze comes into consideration. Besides, when these spectacles are worn in an atmos- phere loaded with dust, the meshes of the gauze become filled, and then their defects are in- creased. Ordinary glass spectacles, of circular shape, about an inch in diameter, are to be preferred to the dust-spectacles above described. Of course they protect the eye less; but where the dust is so abundant that sufficient protection is not afforded by the ordinary glass spectacles, or where a small amount of dust upon the eye proves injurious, the surgeon does well to prohibit the patient from being thus exposed. I. Veils.—These are chiefly practicable in the case of children and females, but since they certainly accomplish their purpose better than goggles, they may be recommended to males. They should not be thick or embroidered, otherwise they have the same disadvantages as the dust-spectacles. B. Among chemical causes of injury, our attention is especially called to 1. Uncleanliness of the edges of the lids or of the conjunctival sac. Among children we can not give the matter too much attention, particularly where the case does not permit the use of the protective bandage. Children in playing are apt to soil their face and hands every moment, and rub the dirt into their eyes in order to alleviate itching. The rules for avoiding this are evident. Jt is only necessary to remark in passing, that those who have the care of children with eye disease should be impressed with the necessity of keeping them away from all dirty places or dirty substances.$