EXPERIENCES OF A SURGEON. 369 



little." I ordered leeches, and blisters behind the ears prescribed 

 her an astringent wash, to be frequently used, and with directions to 

 bring her to me morning and night, in order that I might with my 

 own hand use an injection containing a weak solution of nitrate of 

 silver. 



For several days these active measures kept the disease at bay ; 

 and I began to hope that in the end I should be able to preserve 

 vision uninjured. I was exceedingly pleased with my little patient. 

 She was a sweet girl, and so docile and patient, and withal so fond 

 of me, that I was as anxious to cure her as if she had been a child 

 of my own. Her mother reported to me, that she looked forwards to 

 coming to be dressed quite with glee; and that if fretful, it was al- 

 ways sufficient to quiet her, by saying, that her doctor would not 

 love her if she cried or were naughty. Her conduct whilst I was 

 dressing her was very engaging : she submitted without a murmur 

 or complaint whilst I cleared the discharge away and threw in the 

 injection, which, though it gave her momentary pain, was soon 

 followed by relief; and then she would quietly lift up the eyelid 

 with her finger, and, smiling, say " I see you, doctor." 



It is astonishing what little things sometimes fill a large place in 

 the imagination. I thought more of this child and her simple re- 

 mark, than I should have thought of a case which involved life and 

 death ; and expected her silver voice to make its customary remark, 

 just as a lover expects the whisper of his mistress, or a mother the 

 kiss of her child. 



One morning, her mother, on bringing her down, stated that Lucy 

 (which was her name) had passed a restless night had screamed 

 out several times, and said, " that something was burning her eyes !" 

 This sounded ill. I removed, with a careful hand, the bandage, con- 

 taining a small cold poultice, and, on gently pressing the eyelid, saw 

 with infinite pain, that all my anxiety and care had failed. The 

 crystalline lenses of both eyes escaped with the gush of matter ; 

 rapid ulceration had come on, and the child was blind. My throat 

 swelled, and a tear filled my eye. The injured organs sunk, and the 

 fair and intelligent girl was freed from pain but fgr ever robbed of 

 vision. I dressed her in silence, and with acute sorrow waited till 

 she should say that now she did not see me. 



The smile passed like sun-light over her features ; her finger was 

 placed on her eyelid ; she turned towards me, and in a moment the 

 heavenly expression of her face vanished, and she said, 



" I can't see you, doctor ;" then, smiling again, " but I shall to- 

 morrow." 



I turned abruptly away, and smothering my feelings briefly ex- 

 plained to her mother the unfortunate termination of our labours. 

 She wept bitterly ; and Lucy, to increase my distress, kept saying, 

 " Don't cry, mother ; I shall see the doctor to-morrow." 



The disease, having committed its worst ravages, now rapidly sub- 

 sided ; several large cicatrices occupied the place of the transparent 

 cornea, and the balls of the eyes were shrunk. Her blindness was 

 irremediable, and the only consolation I had was, that no further 

 injury or suffering was likely to result to the patient and beautiful 



M.M. No. 4. 3 B 



