276 * - PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1758. 



wore all the winter a black patch over it, to guard against fresh cold. The cyst, 

 when first taken away, measured 3^ inches in length, 1^ in diameter, and con- 

 tained a large cup-full of wateri It appeared to be the tunica sclerotica, was of 

 a clear pellucid white, and of so delicate a texture, as scarcely to admit of being 

 touched without tearing ; and when dried with all possible care, became so 

 brittle, that Mr. Hopkins could hardly preserve it in the manner he had sent it. 



Remarks. — In both S. Earle's and J. Law's cases, the eye was distended by the 

 accumulation of the aqueous humour, separated in great quantity by the repeated 

 straining of the blood-vessels in the hooping cough, which might gradually relax 

 and enlarge the aqueous ducts of S. Earle's eye ; and possibly by the rupture of 

 . those ducts, and of some blood-vessels, at the time J. Law exerted himself vio- 

 lently in beating dung about the close; for in either case the impetus of the blood 

 must have been so violent as to produce those effects. However, from the hy- 

 drophthalmia succeeding the operation on Law, the fungous excrescence, and 

 continual serous discharge during several months from the wound, it plainly ap- 

 pears that an abundance of aqueous humour was discharged at first by the disten- 

 sion or laceration of the aqueous ducts, and latterly for want of a contraction of 

 those vessels, and of the lymphatics, which were no longer of use. 



Both these cases showed the necessity of inquiring particularly into the causes 

 of diseases of the eyes, as well as of other parts of the body ; for by barely attend- 

 ing to the symptoms, the disease will not be removed, though the symptoms be 

 alleviated. Bleeding, and moderate evacuations, would doubtless at first have 

 decreased the tension and pain, and assuaged the inflammation ; but both topical 

 applications, and internal medicines, were properly to be adapted, and a suitable 

 diet regulated. Not to mention the absurd and impertinent abuse of empirics, 

 what benefit could accrue, in both these cases, from unctuous, laxative, or 

 emollient applications, from drastic and mercurial purges ? Though such appli- 

 cations might be well intended, to take off the tension and inflammation ; yet as 

 the distension of the blood-vessels only increased gradually, as the globe of the 

 eye was enlarged ; so whatever application relaxed the coats of the eye must in- 

 fallibly stretch out the vessels yet farther, and cause a greater pain and inflam- 

 mation ; which drastic and mercurial purges would also increase. The only 

 method then to be pursued in such bad cases would be at first to endeavour to 

 remove the fulness of the blood, and make use of such topical remedies as would 

 contract without irritation. If the cause remains, as the hooping cough in S. 

 Earle's case, no amendment of the eye can be expected, while the patient's blood- 

 vessels are continually strained by frequent coughing. This illness therefore 

 should be attended to, and removed as soon as possible. 



But should the eye be so enlarged as to protrude itself out of the orbit, there 

 «eems no other way to lessen the bulk of the eye, than by making a puncture 



