I N F I , AM MAT ION S . 27 



3. The application of strong light, or even of a moderate 

 light long continued. 



4. The application of much heat, and particularly of that 

 with moisture. 



5. Much exercise of the eyes in viewing minute objects. 



6. Frequent intoxication. 



7- Irritation from other and various diseases of the eyes. 



8. An acrimony prevailing in the mass of blood, and deposited 

 in the sebaceous glands on the edges of the eye-lids. 



9- A change in the distribution of the blood, whereby either a 

 more than usual quantity of blood, and with more than usual 

 force is impelled into the vessels of the head, or whereby the 

 free return of the venous blood from the vessels of the head is 

 interrupted. 



10. A certain consent of the eyes with the other parts of the 

 system, whereby, from a certain state of these parts, either a si- 

 multaneous, or an alternating affection of the eyes, is produced. 



CCLXXXI. The proximate cause of Ophthalmia is not dif- 

 ferent from that of inflammation in general ; and the different 

 circumstances of Ophthalmia may be explained by the differ- 

 ence of its remote causes, and by the different parts of the eye 

 which it happens to affect. This may be understood from what 

 has been already said ; and I shall now therefore proceed to con- 

 sider the Cure. 



CCLXXXII. In the cure of Ophthalmia, the first attention 

 will be always due to the removing of the remote causes, and 

 the various means necessary for this purpose will be directed by 

 the consideration of these causes enumerated above. 



The Ophthalmia membranarum requires the remedies proper 

 for inflammation in general ; and, when the deeper seated mem- 

 branes are affected, and especially when a pyrexia is present, large 

 general bleedings may be necessary. But this is seldom the 

 case ; as the Ophthalmia, for the most part, is an affection pure- 

 ly local, accompanied with little or no pyrexia. General bleed- 

 ings, therefore, from the arm or foot, have little effect upon it ; 

 and the cure is chiefly to be obtained by topical bleedings, that 

 is, blood drawn from vessels near the inflamed part ; and open- 

 ing the jugular vein, or the temporal artery, may be considered 



