INFLAMMATION OF THE CONJUNCTIVA 405 



washed off in a short thiie with clean water; or we may apply nitrate of 

 silver, following it up a few minutes afterward with a 2 per cent, solution 

 of chloride of sodium. Alum solutions are also useful for washing or 

 painting the inflamed membrane. In pronounced photophobia we may 

 paint the conjunctiva with a solution of cocaine or tincture of opium and 

 gum arabic. In chronic cases apply ointments of calomel, 10 to 20 per 

 cent., oxide of mercury, 3 to 5 per cent. It is not well to keep up too 

 long with one preparation, but substitute another drug after a certain 

 period has elapsed. 



In chronic catarrh of the eyes a very effective method of reducing 

 the irritation is to blow small quantities of calomel directly on the 

 membrane. Follicular conjunctivitis may be treated with astringents, 

 but in the acute forms which occur on the surface of the membrana 

 nictitans we can only remove them by surgically removing the membrane. 



]^. Zinc sulphate, 1.0 



Acid boric, 3.0 



Aqua distil., 150.0 

 Sig. — Eye drops. 



I^. Argenti nitras, 0.1 



Aqua distil., 10.0 



Sig. — A few drops in the eye for several days. 



I^. Hydrarg. sesquioxide, 1.0 



Ung. petrolati 4.0 



M. F. ung. 



Sig. — Apply to the edges of the lids twice daily. 



The influence of cocaine upon the conjunctiva and cornea renders 

 these parts insensitive and permits a number of small operations without 

 producing any feeling of pain or convulsive irritation of the eyelid. We 

 pour a little 5 per cent, solution of cocaine into the eye and obtain in 

 this manner, in from two to three minutes, an absolute insensibility to 

 pain, both in the cornea and conjunctiva. This does not, as a rule, 

 last more than ten minutes and must therefore be renewed every five 

 minutes if necessary. In order to reduce blepharospasm, as a conse- 

 quence of conjunctivitis, we should apply s lutions of cocaine every two 

 or three hours. In the milder forms of follicular conjunctivitis that is 

 seen on the inner surface of the membrana nictitans, the stronger solu- 

 tions of sulphate of zine, sulphate of copper, or nitrate of silver are used. 

 It is best to apply a solution of cocaine to the eye and then lift up the 

 membrana nictitans and apply the solution directly to the inside sur- 

 face of the membrane by means of a camel 's hair brush. These cases 

 are generally very obstinate to treat and it is best, when after some time 

 the condition does not improve, that the membrana nictitans be removed 



