PERIODIC OPHTHALMIA. 375 



during the night, and is first recognised by swollen eyelids, 

 nearly closed, abundant lachrymal secretion, strongly in- 

 jected conjunctiva, opacity of the cornea, protrusion of the 

 haw over the globe of the eye, and considerable intolerance 

 of light. It is generally referred to a blow; but the evident 

 pain on exposure to light will often show that the deeper 

 parts of the eye are involved. There is some fever indicated 

 by hot dry mouth, hard pulse, and slight costiveness, but the 

 appetite may still be good. On the second, or from that to 

 the sixth day, the opacity of the transparent cornea becomes 

 more marked, the whiteness being referrable to the interior 

 of the eye, and a close examination shows this to be com- 

 posed of a number of albuminous flocculi floating in the aque- 

 ous humour, and entirely hiding the iris. These flocculi have 

 a white, or dirty yellowish-white, colour, and, in a day or two 

 after their appearance, become in great part deposited in 

 the lower part of the anterior chamber. They subsequently 

 change to a greenish or brownish hue. 



The symptoms commence to disappear at a time varying 

 from the fourth to the tenth day or even later, and the ten- 

 derness becomes gradually removed, the intolerance of light 

 ceases, and the cornea becomes clear. In the turbid aqueous 

 humour numerous flocculi remain, and behind it the iris is 

 seen, with a dull greenish or brownish aspect. As the ab- 

 sorption goes on, the cornea and anterior chamber become 

 perfectly clear. The duration of an attack may vary from 

 four or five days to forty. The first attacks are usually the 

 longest, and their duration diminishes, as a rule, with their 

 recurrence. During the progress of apparent recovery a re- 

 lapse is not unfrequent, and the term may be thus indefinitely 

 lengthened. The interval between the attacks is, on an ave- 

 rage, about sixty days. The eye may seem quite clear during 

 the intermission ; but it has not returned to its normal con- 



