KERATITIS • 125 



Abscess of the cornea is an exceedingly serious 

 condition, the eye nearly always being lost. It gen- 

 erally results from injury, with subsequent infection 

 by pyogenic organisms. (In such cases we find 

 near the center of the cornea a yellowish-gray 

 rounded spot, infiltrated with pus cells, with an area 

 of swollen tissue around it.) Later the anterior walls 

 slough off, and an open ulcer with prominent edges 

 is revealed. Soon cloudiness of the aqueous humor 

 appears and pus forms in the anterior chamber of 

 the eye (hypopyon). 



The infective processes extend to the iris and 

 ciliary body and finally the whole eye becomes in- 

 volved, there being no tendency to spontaneous re- 

 covery. 



As all varieties of suppurative keratitis are serious 

 and threaten the eyesight, treatment should be at 

 once instituted and diligently carried out. 



Treatment. — The eye should be frequently irri- 

 gated with antiseptic solutions such as chinosol 

 (1-2000), a saturated solution of boric acid, or bi- 

 chlorid of mercury (1-5000). 



The pupil should be alternately dilated and con- 

 tracted by the instillation of solutions of atropin 

 (1-100) and physostigmin (1-200) to guard against 

 adhesions of the iris. 



The ulcers themselves should be touched up with 

 a solution of protargol, five grains to the ounce, or, 

 if sluggish, even by thermocautery under cocain 

 anesthesia. 



Very small staphylomas should be punctured; by 

 diminishing the intraocular pressure, healing is ac- 

 celerated. Partial staphylomas should be ligated 

 with a fine silk ligature and ablated three days after 

 ligation. 



Abscesses of the cornea should be opened without 



