146 OSSIFICATION OF PARTS OF THR EYE. 



gland had diminished a fourth of its natural volume, and its gland- 

 ular structure was changed into an indurated cellular tissue, beau- 

 tifully white. No traces of the parotid duct could be discovered, 

 except at its place of origin, and there, existed a cavity large 

 enough to hold a pigeon's egg, containing a turbid fluid, like de- 

 composed saliva. 



The submaxillary lymphatic glands had disappeared — had 

 seemingly become transformed into scirrhous tumours. 



The right lachrymal caruncle was the size of a pigeon's egg, 

 scirrhous, and encephaloid like the other tumours. At the larger 

 angle of the eye (the outer) there was a similar growth, of the 

 volume of a nut, having its base, which was its largest part, sup- 

 ported partly by the cornea, partly by the sclerotica. These two 

 membranes of the eye, however, did not in themselves appear dis- 

 eased. A mucous membrane covered the tumour : its roots also 

 consisted of sub-mucous tissue. The interior of the eye proved 

 sound. The eyelids had increased in substance. 



Such is the history of fungus heematodes in one of its most 

 dreaded and uncontrollable forms. In M. Crepin's trying case, the 

 direful foe had not long been uprooted from one place before he 

 was seen rising up in another; or else with revived energy and 

 more terrifying aspect appearing anew in the very spot from 

 which he had been last dislodged, never, as was but too fondly 

 hoped, to shew his face again. Anomalous and incomprehensible 

 disease like this baffles all and every remedy art can devise to 

 oppose it with. We may succeed in keeping the destroyer for a 

 time in abeyance ; but in the end he will, in spite of us, consume 

 the heart' s-blood of his victim. 



OSSIFICATION OF PARTS OF THE EYE. 



It is an opinion entertained by the best surgeons, that osseous 

 deposit is not only at all times the result of inflammation in some 

 form, kind, or degree, but that inflammation, long-continued or fre- 

 quently relapsing in almost any part, is very apt to leave some un- 

 natural formation of osseous substance. The eye is certainly no 



