SIMPLE OPHTHALMIA. 109 



may be used. In cases where there is no abrasion, an 

 application consisting of tr. opii, plumbi acetas et aqua, in 

 the usual proportions, will be found beneficial. Such a 

 mixture, however, should not be used where abrasions 

 exist, as the resulting compound, meconate of lead, being 

 insoluble, might produce as much trouble as the original 

 irritant. Belladonna, externally and internally, is highly 

 beneficial, and has a strong tendency to prevent, and even 

 break up, adhesions. A very good lotion is as follows : 

 zinc, sulphas grs. iii. — grs. v. ; aquse Ji. ; to this opium and 

 belladonna may be added, if desired, as before stated, bella- 

 donna being highly useful where structural change is feared. 

 A slight laxative, to be followed by diuretics, may be given. 

 If winter, omit the purgative in all but exceptional cases, 

 but give diuretics. If the trouble is caused by any foreign 

 substance being embedded in the eyeball or the lid, remove 

 with a small feather or silk handkerchief ; but in most of the 

 cases where it is embedded it cannot be removed except by 

 the forceps. Local inflammation in many cases can be 

 quickly and effectually reduced by scarifying the parts ; or 

 a moderate abstraction of blood may be nriade by opening 

 the angular vein, using a sharp Symmes abscess-knife for the 

 purpose. The flow of blood will cease after a while of its own 

 accord. The only trouble is that the blood often will not flow, 

 instead of being hard to check. In such a case one must en- 

 courage the flow of blood, which may be done in various ways. 

 Atropine may be used, if so desired, instead of belladonna, 

 as above mentioned. It may be used in the proportion of 

 atropise sulph., grs. ii. — iii., to aqu?e 3i. This may be applied 

 by means of a camel's-hair pencil, or, what is probably 

 better, a hypodermic or other small syringe may be used, 

 by means of which the solution may be easily forced into con- 

 tact with the inflamed structures. After the inflammation is 

 allayed, it becomes the task of the practitioner to direct his 



