38 DISEASES CLASS I. 1.3.14. 



absorption in them; and then lessened, till all the matter is ab- 

 sorbed, which is brought by the arteries, instead of being depo- 

 sited in the ulcer. 



M. M. This is promoted by a bandage, by sorbentia ex- 

 ternally, as powder of bark, white lead; solution of sugar of lead. 

 And by the sorbentia internally after evacuations. See Sect. 

 XXXIII. 3. 2. 



In those ulcers, which are made by the contact of external 

 fire, the violent action of the fibres, which occasions the pain, is 

 liable to continue, after the external heat is withdrawn. This 

 should be relieved by external cold, as of snow, salt and water 

 recently mixed, ether, or spirits of wine, suffered to evaporate on 

 the part. 



The cicatrix of an ulcer generally proceeds from the edges of 

 it; but in large ones frequently from the middle, or commences 

 in several places at the same time; which probably contributes 

 to the unevenness of large scars. 



14. Cornece obfuscatio. Opacity of the cornea. There are 

 few people who have passed the middle of life, who have not at 

 some time suffered some slight scratches or injuries of the cornea, 

 which by not healing with a perfect smooth surface, occasion 

 some refractions of light, which may be conveniently seen in the 

 following manner: fill a tea-saucer with cream and tea, or with 

 milk, and holding it to your lips, as if going to drink it, the im- 

 perfections of the cornea will appear like lines or blotches on the 

 surface of the fluid, with a less white appearance than that sur- 

 face. Those blemishes of the eye are distinguished from the 

 muscae volitantes described in Class I. 2. 5 3. by their being in- 

 variably seen at any time when you look for them. 



Ulcers may frequently be seen on the cornea after ophthal my, 

 like little pits or indentations beneath the surface of it; in this 

 case no external application should be used, lest the scar should 

 be left uneven; but the cure should be confined to the internal 

 use of thirty grains of bark twice a day, and from five to ten 

 drops of laudanum at night, with five grains of rhubarb, if 

 necessary. 



After ulcers of the cornea, which have been large, the ine- 

 qualities and opacity of the cicatrix obscure the sight: in this 

 case, could not a small piece of the cornea be cut out by a kind 

 of trephine about the size of a thick bristle, or a small crow- 

 quill, and would it not heal with a transparent scar? This expe- 

 riment is worth trying, and might be done by a piece of hollow 

 steel wire with a sharp edge, through which might be introduced 

 a pointed steel screw; the screw to be introduced through the 

 opaque cornea to hold it up, and press it against the cutting edge 



