580 ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



INFLUENCE OF ALCHOLISM ON THE SIGHT. 



In a paper read before the Acaclemie cle Medecine, some in- 

 teresting remarks were presented by Mr. Galezowski upon the 

 influence of alcoholism on the sight. Cases of this form of 

 amblyopia were frequently brought on during the siege of 

 Paris, as the author believed, by drinking alcoholic liquids in 

 the morning on an empty stomach. The characteristic symp- 

 toms are a somewhat sudden enfeebling of the sight, which, 

 however, then remains for several weeks without any sensi- 

 ble change ; the acuteness of vision is sensibly diminished, 

 and that of distant objects, especially, is much lessened, the 

 lace of a person not being recognizable at some paces' dis- 

 tance, in consequence of a sort of white haze appearing to en- 

 velop every object. The haze is less apparent toward even- 

 ing, and the sight consequently then improves. A curious 

 perversion of the faculty of appreciating colors occurs in this 

 disease. Thus carmine, red, and green are often confounded 

 with each other, while violet is taken for red, and yellow for 

 red. The vision is often double and triple, and colors of ob- 

 jects become very much mixed. This disease, according to 

 the author, is due to an affection of the longitudinal muscu- 

 lar fibres of the arteries, which act by dilating them, and to 

 a spasmodic contraction of the circular fibres of these same 

 vessels. The result of this is to prevent the arrival of the 

 blood in sufficient quantity for the arteries. An application 

 of the extract of Calabar bean was found to be quite efficient 

 in removing the difficulty. 



The paper sums up the general conclusions of the author 

 in the following language, as quoted by the London Medical 

 Times : 1. This disease appears as a consequence of prolonged 

 indulgence in alcoholic drinks, and especially when these are 

 taken fasting, or before dinner; 2. Bad food and a wretched 

 condition of existence predispose to its development ; 3. Com- 

 plete abstinence from alcoholic drinks during several weeks 

 or months is an indispensable condition for recovery; 4. The 

 bromide of potassium is a very efficacious remedy ; and the 

 eserine, or Calabarine collyrium, is one of the best means of 

 combating the visual disturbance ; 5. This amblyopia is tract- 

 able when combated at an early period ; but later it becomes 

 a serious affection, which is very difficult of cure. 20 A, May 

 6,517. 



