1895 - 96 .] 
Dr Charteris on Action of Eucain. 
169 
Local Anaesthesia . 
Three drops of a solution of hydrochlorate of eucain (1 in 10), 
when inserted into the eye of a guinea-pig, induced in 60 seconds 
complete anaesthesia of the cornea. The pupil was not affected, and 
there was no subsequent irritation. 
It is apart from the nature of this paper to enter upon the 
utility of this new local anaesthetic. The clinical observations 
upon this are as yet meagre. But when used in operations on the 
eye, the evidence is clear that it has no effect on the pupil. Cocaine, 
on the other hand, dilates the pupil. Dr Berger of Paris, in opera- 
ting for cataract, employs first a drop of a 1 per cent, solution, and 
after 3 minutes a drop of a 2 per cent, solution. This procedure, 
he says, causes complete anaesthesia of the cornea. 
In dental practice it is found that 5 drops of a solution (1 in 10) 
injected into the gum before extraction of a tooth are sufficient to 
render this operation painless. 
