210 Treatise on the Diseases of the Eye. 



is, that it makes them blind. But it is a curious fact that Bengal rice 

 has not this effect ; and is consequently preferred for long voyages, 

 and sells at a higher price than the other kinds. This peculiarity is 

 partly owing to the cheapness of food in Bengal, which enables the 

 natives to use condiments along with it. Weak persons in this 

 country, of the lower class, will be found to live on aliment posses- 

 sing no diversity of ingredients, to reside in damp impure air, in 

 close heated rooms, and exposed to sudden and great changes in 

 temperature. When such patients are in this state, exposed to fatigue 

 or mental depression, by which they are reduced to great debility and 

 apathy, the tongue becomes pallid and tremulous, they have no 

 appetite, bowels generally relaxed, extremities shrunk, and the sur- 

 face of the body cold, without much cutaneous perspiration. The 

 pulse is small, soft, and frequent. The sides of the face, lips, and 

 eyelids swell, and the inflammation of the conjunctiva is of a peculiar 

 variety ; being of a dark pinkish colour, and thickened. There is 

 considerable pain, with the discharge of warm tears, and great in- 

 tolerance of light, so that it is with considerable difficulty that the 

 pupil can be seen. When observed, it is of a whitish milky appear- 

 ance, and the surface is found irregular and dull in appearance. In 

 the acute form a small groove is found near the edge of the cornea, 

 the iris is inflamed, and the anterior chamber filled with a muddy 

 purulent fluid. The ulceration extends, penetrates the different 

 layers of the cornea round its circumference, and the whole cornea 

 sloughs in the form of a yellowish pulpy substance. This being 

 removed, leaves the dark iris bulged out from the dark, pinkish, and 

 thickened conjunctiva, in consequence of the crystalline lens, reduced 

 to an opaque whitish substance, being pressed forwards, and on its 

 being evacuated the eyeball collapses. In some cases the other eye 

 became diseased, followed the same course, and in like manner was 

 quickly destroyed. 



This disease of the eye is sometimes complicated with others, and 

 with extreme emaciation when both eyes are more or less affected. 

 In most cases after the loss of one eye the other gets well, and 

 retains a certain degree of vision. 



During the collapsed state of insanity, in which diarrhoea is often 

 present, the eyes are often afflicted with this disease. I have already, 



