EYE DISEASES PROPER 



1997 



10 per cent, solution of protargol, or lo to 25 per cent, of argyrol. 

 Ice compresses are very soothing. For the inflammation due to 

 the diplobacillus of Morax and Axenfeld, the best treatment is to 

 instil a 0*25 per cent, solution of zinc sulphate two or three times 

 a day, or a o»5o per cent, solution once a day. When the acute 

 symptoms have subsided, a little adrenalin may be added to the 

 zinc sulphate solution. 



In order to prevent the sticking together of the eyelids, a 2 per 

 cent, ointment of boric acid, or a J per cent, strength of white pre- 

 cipitate ointment, may be used. 



It is almost unnecessary to state that no bandage should be 

 applied to the eye, or that the disease is contagious, and that it is 

 necessary to warn the patient's friends of the danger of the attack. 



The Chronic Variety may be the sequela to an acute attack, or may 

 be in the form of the angular conjunctivitis due to the Morax- 

 Axenfeld bacillus, or due to eyestrain or local injury by wind, dust 

 or foreign bodies, or the use of alcoholic liquors. 



The symptoms are most marked at night, when the patient feels 

 as though a foreign body was in the eye or has sensations of rainbow 

 colours. The eyes are apt to burn and to be dazzled by light. In 

 the morning the lids are stuck together. Sometimes there is 

 excessive secretion, and sometimes there is lessened secretion. If 

 neglected, this chronic variety may last for years, and may lead 

 to epiphora, ectropion, or ulceration of the cornea. 



The treatment is the same as for the acute stage, but the best 

 therapy is the zinc sulphate drops in the form of a ^-per cent, solu- 

 tion applied night and morning. 



The Follicular Variety may occur in epidemics, and may be acute, 

 when it is usually of bacterial origin; or chronic, when it is usually 

 non-bacterial. It is characterized by the formation of small, round, 

 pale granules about the size of a pin's head, and is easily mistaken 

 for conjunctivitis trachomatosa; but the granules are usually best 

 marked in the inferior fornix, while those of trachoma are more 

 marked in he superior fornix and tarsus, which must be most care- 

 fully examined by retroverting the lid and the retrotarsal fold in 

 order to be certain that trachoma is absent. In the acute form the 

 treatment is the same as for acute catarrhal conjunctivitis, but 

 when chronic it is usual to apply copper sulphate treatment. An 

 ointment of i in 1,000 copper sulphate or i in 100 copper citrate is 

 recommended by some authorities. 



Conjunctivitis Gonorrhoica. 



This is so well known that no special reference need be made 

 to it. 



Conjunctivitis Neonatorum. 



This is usually due to the gonococcus, but may be caused by a 

 streptococcus or probably by a chlamydozoon. 



