212 Treatise on the Diseases of the Eye, 



followed, and the heat of the tears has been diminished, the spirit 

 opii. is to be dropped into the diseased eye. 



The second kind of sloughing ulcers, which is attended with the 

 formation and detachment of the mortified part, occurs in the feeble 

 and cachectic. These ulcers appear on the cornea without much 

 vascular action, and in their progress the layers of whitish or ash- 

 coloured sloughs are thrown off, which for a time leave the cornea 

 underneath more or less clear. In other cases the whole cornea 

 sloughs. This sometimes occurs in this country in cases of dysentery, 

 with extensive organic derangement, from exposure to unhealthy 

 situations, and the great weakness produced by want. 



Much care and attention are required in the treatment of this most 

 important variety of ulcer. When produced in the young or in very 

 old persons from weakness, the system is to be supported by quinine 

 and nourishing diet, and the healthy action of the digestive organs 

 improved by aperients, and stimulants applied to increase the action 

 of the ulcer. Of these the sulphate of zinc, the nitrate of silver, and 

 the oxymuriate of mercury in solution are the best. 



When the sloughing process is advancing, the cause, as in purulent 

 ophthalmia, is to be diminished by the application of scarifications, 

 leeches, &c, and as soon as the inflammation has been reduced, 

 stimulants are to be applied to the ulcerated surface. In the absence 

 of such symptoms, perseverance in an antiphlogistic treatment, such 

 as the application of leeches, &c. is liable to produce injurious effects. 

 I have known a dose of salts increase the slough considerably in one 

 night, and thus destroy the hope of restoring the eye to a state of 

 useful vision." 



We do not think that Dr. Wise has dwelt quite sufficiently 

 on the leading symptom of the complaint — the sloughing of 

 the cornea, and this naturally leads us to the alleged ivant 

 of adhesive power in the cornea of natives, which has long 

 been considered a bar to the use of the operation by extrac- 

 tion : (p. 6.) 



" So common is this want of adhesive power, that extraction of the 

 cataracts can very rarely be performed in Bengal ; as it is ac- 



