Diseases of the Eye. i8l 



membrane will be found highly injected, and the eye pain- 

 fully susceptible to touch or exposure. 



Unless the inflammation be checked it rapidly extends, 

 other and deeper-seated structures become involved, and 

 the vision dangerously impaired. The cornea is traversed 

 with engorged vessels, the pupillary opening blocked by an 

 opaque mass of exudation (lymph) ; and quickly upon 

 this we get ulceration of the cornea, followed by fungoid 

 granulations. 



Treatment. — .The lids should be carefully separated, and 

 examination made for the presence of any foreign matter, 

 which, should it exist, is to be gently removed. So long as 

 inflammatory action is present, the avoidance of light, warm 

 fomentations, and, at the onset, a mild dose of aperient 

 medicine, is generally all that is requisite. 



In cases where the disease will not yield to these 

 simple measures, where the inflammation increases, and 

 there is considerable distension of the corneal vessels, 

 local bleeding is attended with much benefit ; this 

 may be produced by pricking the skin immediately 

 under the lower lid, and applying a leech or two 

 or puncturing the lachrymal vein with a lance, and 

 placing the finger on the vessel beneath the opening. I 

 shall probably be accused of being antiquated in advocating 

 the latter measure (blood-letting), but experience in in- 

 flammatory eye diseases in the lower animals has taught 

 me that, however old the doctrine, it still holds good in local 

 inflammations, particularly in vascular parts, and in none 

 more so than the eye. With regard to other measures — the 

 avoidance of light, and warm fomentations, should still be 

 maintained. Bathing the eye with an infusion of poppy- 

 heads is sedative to the inflamed part, and therefore useful. 

 A low and unstimulating diet is absolutely necessary. 



Chronic or constitutional ophthalmia is denoted by the 

 eyes being always watery, but more so on exposure to light 



