74 Mr. Foote on the Use of the 
and followed up to a very great extent, the plan of stimula- 
tion in acute external inflammations of the eye. Before his 
time, the vinum opii, solutions of nitrate of silver in distilled 
or rose water of various strengths, the unguentum zinci, or 
the unguentum hydrargyri nitratis dilutum, were employed, 
but not extensively, in the chronic inflammations; while Mr. 
Guthrie has used them, and stronger stimuli, in the acute 
stage of the same affections; a step, for the boldness of which 
he would have been severely blamed, but for the success with 
which his efforts were crowned. On the continent, Graafe 
and Walther, and some other surgeons, employed the solu- 
tion of the nitrate of silver in purulent ophthalmia; but this 
application has the inconvenience, that, when employed for 
any length of time, it has the effect of staining the eye. 
This was first pointed out in print by Dr. Jacob, in the 
Dublin Medical Transactions, but was constantly inculcated 
at the Ophthalmic Hospital in Warwick street, to my certain 
knowledge, both by Dr. Forbes and Mr. Guthrie, the phy- 
sician and surgeon to that institution. 
In the May of 1827, Mr. Guthrie pushed his inquiries still 
further: he caused an ointment to be made with ten grains of 
the nitrate of silver to the drachm of simple ointment, and 
tried this in numerous cases. After several formule, vari- 
ously modified, had been essayed, he finally decided on a 
preparation containing the argentum nitratum with Goulard’s 
extract, mixed up with lard; he also employed an ointment 
made with the oxymuriate (the bi-chloride) of mercury, and 
another composed of simple cerate and the sulphas cupri, 
five grains to the drachm; but these latter he soon aban- 
doned. These applications were employed by him in the 
various ophthalmiz, acute and chronic, affecting the con- 
junctiva, the cornea, and the sclerotica; also in cases of 
nebula; but in these latter affections the milder stimuli are 
more properly required, as the disease generally takes a long 
time for its removal, and a milder, and at the same time a 
more frequently renewed, stimulus has a greater effect in 
exciting the absorbents to action. The celebrated French 
surgeon, Dupuytren, employs in this disease a combination of 
equal parts of calomel, sugar, and oxide of zinc, blown into 
the eye. Various other surgeons have tested the powers of 
these applications, and all speak in their favour; some more 
sparingly than others. Mr. Mackenzie, of Glasgow, is one 
of those who do not speak so highly of these remedies as they 
deserve; which need not excite our admiration, as he has 
hitherto employed a bad preparation. Mr. Lawrence has 
