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one-half were cured in from two to three weeks. I have never met 

 with a case of the disease among the better class of people. I have 

 heard of two medical gentlemen who, after recovering from fever, 

 were troubled for some time with muscse, but as yet the disease has 

 extended no further. 



Treatment — Depletion. — In by far the greater proportion of 

 cases, local depletion by means of cupping was resorted to, and with 

 decided relief. The cupping was repeated several times, at intervals 

 of two or three days. In no instance, however, was venesection 

 practiced. Considering the remarkable unanimity of opinion among 

 the several writers on this disease as regards its cause, history, and 

 symptoms, it is somewhat surprising that they should differ so widely 

 as to its nature and treatment. Messrs. Jacob and Mackenzie, for 

 example, look upon the disease of the eye as one of active conges- 

 tion, and the inflammation as decidedly acute in its character. Act- 

 ing upon this opinion, they both, particularly the latter, strongly 

 insist upon the necessity of depletion, both local and general, for 

 its cure. Mr. Jacob recommends depletion "in proportion to the 

 urgency of the symptoms;" but Mr. Mackenzie remarks: "I 

 am satisfied that we can rarely with safety dispense with general 

 depletion — if it is neglected, the recovery is slow and uncertain — 

 adhesions form and cannot be got rid of, and vision continues im- 

 perfect. We must not be regulated by the pain alone, but the state 

 of the eye, independent of the pain, demands the taking away blood. 

 We should not even wait for the inflammatory stage of the disease, 

 but relieve the congestion upon which the amaurotic symptoms 

 depend, by the use of the lancet." Mr. Jacob states that the dis- 

 ease "is more common among the poor than the rich, and is there- 

 fore probably to be referred to exposure to cold and to insufficient 

 nourishment after the fever." Mr. Mackenzie describes the fever 

 which precedes and gives rise to the ophthalmic affection "as pros- 

 trating in its effects upon the system, that it only occurs among the 

 poor — those living in ill-ventilated and crowded places, and those 

 who are baddy nourished" In speaking of the exciting causes of 

 the disease he says: "There may even be grounds for suspecting that 

 the fever may have left the circulating fluids in, an altered state, 

 favourable for the production of the local complaint." Among the 

 various sequelae of the fever, he mentions "long-continued debility." 

 To one who has no theoretical notions to sustain, in regard to tho 

 nature of the ophthalmic disease, it would seem, a priori, scarcely rea- 

 sonable, that persons recently recovered, nay, in some instances 



