95 



The cases of blindness from the use of quinine, reported by 

 Professor M'Lean* of Rush Medical College, are highly interesting 

 in this connection. A man with a low grade of remittent fever took 

 sixteen grains, (as nearly as could be judged by the sight) every 

 hour till nearly an ounce was taken. Before it was discontinued he 

 became perfectly blind. For the first year he slowly and gradually 

 recovered, and "later than this" his sight was not yet perfectly 

 restored. In another case "large quantities were given, and while 

 taking it the patient became blind; which continued for several 

 weeks ;" "her sight was finally restored." In another case, doses 

 averaging three grains every hour were given for three days, at 

 which rate two hundred and sixteen grains must have been swallowed. 

 Blindness took place on the third day. "After some weeks his sight 

 became partially restored, but continues more or less imperfect even 

 at the present time. During the greater part of the first year he 

 could look steadily at the sun, without seeing it or even experiencing 

 any painful sensation. When he first began to see sufficiently to 

 read, which was in the course of the first year, he could perceive 

 but a small luminous spot upon the paper, about an inch in diameter, 

 within which he could distinguish letters, but all without was cloudi- 

 ness and confusion. During this time the pupils were very much 

 dilated, and he could see objects at a distance much better than 

 those near by. His sight has continued to improve ever since; and 

 at the present time, although quite imperfect, is sufficiently good to 

 enable him to read and write, though with difficulty. The pupils 

 are still considerably dilated, and he sees objects at twilight imper- 

 fectly. The direct rays of the sun upon the head produce pain 

 there, accompanied with a painful sensation deep in the orbit of the 

 eye, and disordered vision. Exercise easily produces fatigue by 

 which his sight is impaired." In another case three drachms were 

 taken, in six grain doses, in the course of thirty-six hours; "at the 

 expiration of which time he became perfectly blind." " On the two 

 succeeding days, his sight, although very imperfect, was considerably 

 restored;" but as the patient died, no further observation of the 

 physiological phenomena could be made. 



In a case related by Dr. Baldwin, a girl six years old took 

 two grain doses at first, every two hours, afterwards every four 

 hours : but we are not told how much she took in all ; if it was given 

 regularly the quantity would have been twenty grains. Ten hours 

 after the medicine had been suspended by order of the physician, 



* Illinois and Indiana Medical and Surgical Journal. 



