DISORDERS IN" RELATION TO THE EYE TOT 



the organism. Bordley gave 2% grains of iodothyrin from one to three 

 times a day. 



Enlarged and diseased tonsils are significant, not only as portals of 

 infection but, from the endocrinological standpoint, as indications of 

 a lymphoid hypertrophy which is generally associated with adenoids and 

 indicates an acidotic, vagotonic tendency. In such tendencies, as in the 

 exudative diathesis there is a marked relative lack of thyroid immunizing 

 power and a resulting disposition to colds and susceptibility to infec- 

 tions. Both features play a role in the uveal affections. Exposure to 

 cold and wet is an important etiological factor in many uveitis cases which 

 would formerly have been classified as idiopathic in the absence of a known 

 specific disease cause. Here there is a close analogy with rheumatism, 



Oi/ 



which is itself so frequent a basic constitutional factor in certain forms 

 of iritis associated less with plastic exudation than with serous effusion, 

 much pain, and not infrequently, increased intra-ocular tension. Arthrit- 

 ism is probably more injurious by way of disturbed metabolism and, sec- 

 ondary, hormone-immunity destruction than by any other action. The 

 good effects of heat, massage, and the change of symptoms for the worse 

 with increase of pain in cold, wet weather are as striking in the ocular 

 involvement as in the joints and muscles. 



The clinical symptoms of uveitis may in a way be said to indicate vago- 

 tonia in the contracted pupil, pain, and tendency to plus tension. Re- 

 peated paracentesis of the anterior chamber has been observed to act fa- 

 vorably by reducing tension and also possibly by removing a chemically 

 altered (acidotic?) secretion and allowing the entrance into the eye of 

 uncontaminated fluids. This stimulation of intra-ocular metabolism un- 

 doubtedly plays a part in other therapeutic procedures such as leeching. 



Skin Affections of the Eye. The skin of the lids is naturally affected 

 by many dermatological diseases. The conjunctiva of lids and globe is, 

 in a way, modified skin, and the same may be said of the epithelium and 

 superficial layers of the cornea. Accordingly, we find typical disturbances 

 of these tissues in constitutional diseases characterized by skin mani- 

 festations, particularly in the acute exanthemata. 



The lymph follicles of the lids show a condition of hyperplasia with 

 little inflammatory reaction, quite like adenoids, in children with tonsils 

 and pharyngeal lymph nodes. Parinaud's conjunctivitis, Mikulicz's dis- 

 ease, and mumps of lachrymal gland and palpebral follicles are analogous. 



Eosinophilia. Blepharitis, red lids, chronic hyperemia of the lid mar- 

 gin, and various skin affections such as dry, seborrheic eczema, and relap- 

 sing styes. Causes, refraction error, pus foci (teeth, tonsils, intestine, 

 sinuses, etc.), with relative hypothyroidism or deficient thyroid immunity. 

 Aided by calcium (sulphids), intestinal lavage, and yeast, a single dose 

 of calomel. 



Falling out of lashes and eyebrows. Herpetic rash of the lid skin 



