284 THE TREATMENT OP DISEASES. 



merely shading the eyes, and it gives a quicker result. Shading is a proper precau- 

 tion for a time a month or more after the eyes are apparently right again. 



8 pecks before the Eyes, or Mwscce volitantes, are of common occurrence in con- 

 nection with megrim, or sick headache (see MEGRIM). They often occur, however, 

 without any accompanying 'headache. Their great characteristic is their incessant 

 movement, for by no effort of the will can they be kept quiet even for a moment. 

 They come into the field of vision, traverse it, and then suddenly disappear. Some- 

 times they are black, and at others quite bright, like little specks of light. They are 

 seen quite as distinctly when the eyes are closed as when they are open. They may 

 occur at any age, but are most common in those who have passed the meridian of life, 

 and often enough they are associated with short-sightedness. Sometimes they depend 

 on an' abnormal perception of particles of dust floating in the fluid which moistens 

 the eye, at others they are due to little particles floating about in the interior of the 

 eye itself. They are usually most troublesome when the eyes have been tried over any 

 tine work, especially if performed by candle-light, and they are intensified by worry 

 and anxiety, or by anything which overtasks the brain or lowers the health. They 

 do no harm, and as a rule cause no inconvenience. They may last for years, and 

 then, perhaps from some change in occupation or mode of life, take their departure. 

 If they are persistent and cause much uneasiness, it would be as well to have the 

 eyes examined by an ophthalmic surgeon, to see if they are sound. Should no fault be 

 detected, the patient cannot do better than live quietly and steadily, keep in as good 

 health as possible, and ignore them. They should not be looked for. Plain glasses of 

 neutral tint or dark cobalt-blue may render them less apparent. When there is 

 anaemia, iron will often effect a cure (see ANAEMIA). In other cases belladonna (Pr. 39) 

 may prove useful! 



Sometimes we meet with specks before the eyes which, instead of being in 

 constant movement, are quite stationary. These are of more serious import, and 

 may be the precursors of cataract or other organic disease of the eye. They are 

 often associated with impairment of vision. In these cases an ophthalmic surgeon 

 should be consulted. 



Pain in the Eyes after reading or minute work of any kind is often due to spasm 

 of the muscle of accommodation. Engravers and workers with the microscope 

 frequently suffer severely. The pain comes on after prolonged application, and is 

 usually of a dull aching character. Not unfrequently it is attended with a little 

 feeling of sickness and considerable depression of spirits. The best thing is to lie 

 down in a dimly-lighted room when the pain comes on, and place over the eyes and 

 eyebrows a pad of lint dipped in cold water. A small piece of mustard-leaf to the 

 temples or behind the ears will ease the pain. We have found relief from bathing 

 the eyes with a very weak solution of atropia it need not be of any definite 

 strength, but may be prepared by putting a drop or two of the solution of atropia 

 (liquor atropice) in a tumblerful of water. It is to be used occasionally as a lotion but 

 must not be taken internally. Arnica often does good ; it should be taken according 

 to Pr. 42, and also applied locally in the form of the arnica lotion (Pr. 94). When the 

 pain is the result of prolonged work by gaslight, nux vomica (Pr. 44) may be used. 



Cataract. By the term cataract is meant an opacity, of the crystalline lens, or 



