OPHTHALMY. 
blindnefs, which always indicates a violent and dangerous 
degree of inflammation, originates either from an opacity of 
the cornea, or a complete clofure of the pupil, two not un- 
frequent confequences of fevere ophthalmy : or it may pro- 
eeed from the effe& of the inflammation upon the retina, and, 
in this cafe, the diforder ufually leaves behind it the gutta 
ferena. See Guta Serena. 
Swelling, which is an ordinary fymptom of inflammation 
of other parts, is alfo fometimes obferved in inflammation of 
the eyes, being particularly obvious in that portion of the 
conjunGtiva which covers the white of theeye. In violent 
ophthalmies, this membrane {wells in fuch a degree, that it 
envelopes the cornea, and lies ina thick fold between the 
eye-lids, protruding betwixt thefe parts, and hindering them 
from being fhut. In this fort of cafe the whole eye-ball re- 
fembles a piece of red flefh. In fevere ophthalmies, the 
circumftance the inflammation ufually occafions a preterna- 
tural adhefion of the iris to the cornea; a diforder that is 
otne 
thalmies, the whole eye-ball has been obferved to be affected 
with preternatural {welling. 
In cafes of ophthalmy, fever is alfo frequently an attend- 
nt. According to Richter, it is worthy of particular no- 
ut prefents itfelf under three varieties. So es it is 
the ame caufe which produces the inflamma- 
5 and, in this circumft e fame means of cure are 
indicated, both for the fever and the ophthalmy h- 
halmy proceeding from diforder of the gaftric organ af- 
ford illuftration of th ing obfervation, emetic 
and purgative medicines ferving, in this inflance, to cure both 
the fever mat e eyes er is 
flammatory fever is particularly applicable toit. After fur- 
gical operations on theeye, and other injuries of this organ, 
a fever often arifes even before the flighteit inflammation is 
difcernible. It appears:to be owing to the patient’s appre- 
ind. 
Ophthalmies, even thofe which are not very fevere, fre- 
11 
mation occafions fuppuration. It often gives rife to uicers 
upon the cornea, or margins of the eye-lids. hen one eye 
is affeéted with inflammation, the other feldom continues free 
from this affeG@ion. Alfo, when the ophthalmy is owing to 
a local external caufe, the other eye frequently participates 
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than the firft. 
phthalmies are divided into different kinds, according to 
the variety in the feat of the affetion, in its degree of vio- 
lence, in its duration, in its external {ymptoms, and, more 
there is no part of the eye which is exempt from the rifk of 
q 
lens rendered opaque. In ftill more numerous examples, the 
patient is deprived of the power of vifion, notwithftandin 
the pupil be clear and uncontra¢ted. ere is little external 
appearance of rednefs about the eye. But the diforder 
ternal inflammation moftly enfuing 
internal ophthalmy is always attended with great danger of 
incurable blindnefs. 
The effects of fevere ophthalmy fometimes extend to the 
tran{parent coruea, which membrane {wells, and is rendered 
of the ciliz, not unfrequently enfue. Sometimes the whole 
eye-lid is inflamed ; and in this cafe, it ufually happens that 
Pe 2h cannot be opened at all, or not without confiderable 
culty. 
The portion of the conjunctiva covering the white of the 
eye is generaily the principal feat of ophthalmy, and it may 
be affected in various ways. Sometimes merely a circum- 
{cribed red fpot, of different fizes and fhapes, is obfervable 
in one of the corners of the eye, appearing to arife from 
a flight 
