SURGERY. 
pure air, exercise, &c. become neces- 
sary. 
Opacity of the cornea, varying in extent or 
intensity, and hence divided into nebula, 
albugo, leucoma, .See. often accompanied 
with varicons vessels in the conjiuictiva. 
Collyria of corrosive sublimate ; ung. hydr. 
niti’. to the opaque part, touching it with 
argent nitr. ; cutting the enlarged vessels of 
the conjunctiva. Ulcers of the cornea 
should be touched with argent, nitr. 
IHerigium is a reddish, loose, triangular 
membrane, growing over the cornea ; and 
must he removed by an operation. 
Staphyloma is a protrusion of the cornea 
between the eyelids, consequent on various 
aft’ections of the eye, and always attended 
with entire destruction of the organ of vi- 
sion. Cut away the projecting party in 
order that the globe may collapse. 
Prolapsus of the iris through a wound or 
ulcer of the cornea ; if all the inflammation 
Las subsided, touch the tumour repeatedly 
with argent, nitrat. until it is destroyed. 
Hypopyum is the collection of a yellow 
purulent fluid behind the cornea, conse- 
quent on inflammation of the eye. If the 
ball should seem much distended, an open- 
ing may be made for its discharge ; other- 
wise attend only to the complaint which 
causes it. 
Dropsy of the globe terminates in protru- 
sion of the organ through the eyelids, oph- 
thalmy, and destruction of the part. The 
projecting cornea may be cut away, that 
the distended globe may collapse. 
Cancer of the eye should be treated by 
extirpation of tlie organ, as soon as the dis- 
order is recognized. The outer angle of 
the eyelids may be divided to give room ; 
these parts should be preserved, unless in- 
cluded in the disease ; and care must be 
taken not to penetrate the thin walls of the 
orbit in the operation. 
Giitta serena, or amaurosis, is a paralytic 
affection of the optic nerve, inducing blind- 
ness : it may be either complete or incom- 
plete; inveterate or recent; continued or 
periodical. The iris is immoveable, and 
the pupil dilated ; there is strabismus ; in- 
sects, or loose substances, seem floating in 
the air before the complaint is formed. The 
incomplete recent form of the disease is 
most frequently curable ; the complete 'in- 
veterate amaurosis seldom admitting of 
cure. The former generally arises from 
disorders in the primas vise, and should be 
treated with emetics, and the following 
piles ; gum. sagapen. galban. sap. ven. 
5 a 31. Rhoi 3iss;antim. tart. gr. xtd; Succ, 
liq. 3 i. M. fiant pilul® granor. v. Three ' 
to be taken morning and evening for six 
weeks. Bark, pure air, &c. must be re- 
sorted to afterwards. Such cases as arise 
from organic injury, or disease of the part, 
or are attended with exostoses of the neigh- 
bouring bones, or with acute and continued 
pain ill the head and eye-brow, &c. afford 
little hope of success. Electricity has some- 
times succeeded. 
Cataract is an opaque state of the crys- 
talline lens, inducing blindness. Its attack 
is gradual ; a slowlynncreasing mist sur- 
rounding all objects. The pupil becomes 
opaque, and these symptoms proceed to an 
almost entire loss of sight, and milky white- 
ness of the pupil. A power of distinguishing 
light from darkness however generally re- 
mains, and the iris still contracts on expo- 
sure to light, which two circumstances dis- 
tinguish the case from amaurosis. It has 
been divided into the hard, soft or caseous, 
and milky or fluid kinds, according to its 
consistence; but these cannot be recognized 
before the operation. The case is often 
complicated by the co-existence of other 
affections, as chronic ophthalmy, lippitudo, 
gutta serena, adhesion to the iris, &c. It 
comes on spontaneously, and the only mode 
of treatment is by a surgical operation ; the 
lens may be taken out of the eye by a cut 
in the cornea, or it may be moved back- 
wards and downwards in the vitreous hu- 
mour, so as to be removed from the axis of 
vision ; the former operation is called ex- 
traction, and the latter couching. A favour- 
able case for tiie operation is where the eye 
retains its sensibility to light ; where there 
is no head-ach nor ophthalmy ; no adhesion 
to the iris. If amaurosis accompany the 
cataract, the operation would be of no use. 
Couching is performed by means of a 
sharp-pointed, slender instrument, called 
the couching needle, introduced into the 
globe of the eye, about one eighth of an 
inch behind the cornea, carried in front of 
the cataract, and then moved downwards 
and backwards, so as to displace the opaque 
lens from the axis of vision. The cataract 
will be absorbed in time, when it is thus 
removed from its natural connections, If 
the lens should be iii a milky or caseous 
state, the pupil will not become clear at the 
time of the operation, but the opaque fluid, 
or any fragments, will be absorbed after- 
wards. If there be adhesion to the iris, 
beware of too much violence, and rather 
repeat tlie operation. Needles have been 
