Inflammation of the Eyelids. Blepharitis. 343 



monly, intense itching. Where eczema exists there may be 

 found minute shot-like papules at times surmounted by small 

 vesicles and the skin disease is continuous backward upon the 

 face. When abscess forms, the rounded swelling and manifest 

 fluctuation will betray its presence. Usually the eye waters and 

 the side of the cheek is wet and the hairs matted by a whitish 

 coagulated lymph and mucus. 



Treatment. In the early stages without scabs, sloughs, or ab- 

 scess, antiseptic astringent lotions are in place. Weak solutions 

 of zinc sulphate, boric acid and morphine may be kept applied 

 on a light bandage. Or silver nitrate i gram to i oz. water may 

 be applied daily with a fine brush. 



When scabs and crusts have formed they may be softened by 

 the application of almond oil, and then removed. The surface 

 may then be dusted with a bland antiseptic powder such as : 

 zinc oxide 10 parts, salicylic acid i part ; or boric acid and starch 

 equal parts ; or iodoform ; or xeroform. Or unctuous applica- 

 tions may be used : zinc oxide 10, salicylic acid i, vaseline 10 ; 

 or iodoform i, vaseline 5. Or a watery application may be used, 

 such as the silver lotion or that of pyoktannin i : 1000. 



For eczema yellow oxide of mercury i, to vaseline 10, has an 

 excellent reputation. It may be alternated with pyoktannin. 



When abscess has formed it should be incised in a line parallel 

 to the free border and the resulting cavity injected with the silver 

 or the pyoktanin solution. 



In all cases the patient must be fastened as for wounds of the 

 lids so that he cannot rub the eye. 



For eczema, acariasis and other skin diseases the special treat- 

 ment appropriate to the disease should not be omitted. 



CEDEMA OF EYEIvIDS. 



In anthrax, malignant oedema, disease of heart, kidney or liver, distoma- 

 tosis, trichiniasis, wasp stings, urticaria, petechial fever. Treatment ; cor- 

 rect general disorder, remove local irritant, antiseptic astringents. 



An oedematous condition of the eyelids with or without in- 

 flammatory conditions may be due to local disease or it may be 

 the result of more general disorder. In anthrax districts any of 



