276 



HOP-PICKERS OPHTHALMIA. 



rapidly worse. This stinging .sensation I have known to affect the 

 skin as well as the eye after a stroke from a hop-bine alone. The 

 hands are often much soiled and blackened with the resinous 

 matter from the hops, and the odour of the volatile oils is very 

 noticeable about the patients' clothing. 



The usual mode of introduction of an irritant from the hop 

 appears to be by the hands. The older agricultural labourers say 

 that, prior to the introduction of lever presses for compressing the 

 dried hops in the ' pockets," this work was performed by treading 



Fig. 68. — Hair-like appendages upon the bracts of the hop-catkins, magnified. 



them in with the feet. This created a considerable quantity of 

 dustj and it was not an unusual occurrence for their eyes to 

 become affected from the hop-dust. Since the application of these 

 presses, this inconvenience no longer occurs. 



Microscopical Examination of the Hop Plant. 



On examining the bracts, leaves, and bine, thorn-like, hairy 

 processes are seen on all, those upon the bine being larger and 



