PATHOLOGY. 
264 
rather complicated, the functions of all the fuffering or¬ 
gans being in, fome" meafurfe deranged, an accurate dif- 
tinftion of the feat of the diforder is often difficult. 
This, however, is the lefs important, as the fame reme¬ 
dies will remove the inflammation, in whichfoever vifcus 
it may occur. Of thefe, blood-letting is the moll effica¬ 
cious ; and, even in the puerperal fate, in ftrong confti- 
tutions, it fhould be early and liberally employed. In 
the dil'eafe happening independent of parturition, it can¬ 
not be omitted with fafety, perhaps, under any circum- 
ftances; but the repetition of it mud be determined by 
the conliitution of the patient, the violence of the fymp¬ 
toms, and the effeft of the previous bleeding on the dif- 
eafe. It may frequently be found neceffary a fecond and 
a third time. A blifter may be alfo applied to the belly, 
as near the feat of the pain as may be. Gentle cathartics, 
efpecially of the faline clafs, are evidently ufeful in the 
cafe of hyfteritis unconnected with child-birth ; but, in that 
which follows delivery, a courfe of purging is not to be 
recommended. It is always right, indeed, in the firft in- 
ftance, to procure two or three evacuations from the intef- 
tines j but, afterwards, it will generally be enough to pre- 
ferve the regular motions of the bowels, by giving, from 
time to time, final! quantities of caftor-oil,ora little rhu¬ 
barb mixed with fome faline purgative. vVith a view of 
producing a determination to the {kin, fmall dofes of an¬ 
timony and opium, or the compound powder of ipecacu¬ 
anha, with the addition of a little rhubarb, and an occa- 
fional faline draught, may be ufefully adminiftered. In cafe 
a fpontaneous diarrhoea ffiould come on, it fhould not be 
interfered with, farther than taking care that the ftrength 
of the patient be not too much reduced by it. Except 
where there is reafon to fufpetl the exiftence of undi- 
gefted or indigeftible aliment in the ftomach, the aftion 
of vomiting fhould always be avoided; inafmuch as it 
conflantly increafes the pain by the agitation which it 
occafions, and the p refill re made by the mufcles of the 
abdomen on the inflamed uterus. 
It is fcarcely neceffary to add, that, during the whole 
courfe of the difeafe, every thing heating and ftimulating 
fhould be cautioufly avoided ; that the food of the patient 
fhould be of a mild and digeltible nature, confifting of 
liquid and vegetable fubftances, and her drink watery and 
diluent, every fort of animal food, and of fermented and 
lpirituous liquors, being abflained from. 
As hyfteria occurs, both connected with and inde¬ 
pendent of parturition, particularly in thofe who indulge 
in full diet, and in the ufe of heating food and liquors ; 
fo the prevention of the difeafe mu ft depend principally 
upon temperance and regularity in this refpefh In the 
former cafe, this end may be obtained by attention to the 
proper management of the woman both before and during 
labour. See Clarke’s Eflays on the Management of Preg¬ 
nancy and Labour. 
The terminations of this complaint are fimilar to thofe 
of the other fpecies of this genus. 
17. Emprefmaorchitis, (Hernia humoralis, and Inflam- 
jnatio tefiium, of various authors.) Inflammation of 
the teflicle. Pain and fwelling of the tefticle ; naufea 
or vomiting; depreflion of fpirits 5 pulfe quick, feme what 
low. 
Subjefl: to the fame caufes of inflammmation as other 
organs of the body, the teflicle is alfo extremely liable 
to an inflammation vicarious with the urethra. Hence 
its frequency in blenorrhcea. The firft appearance of 
fwelling is generally a foft pulpy fulnefs of the body of 
the tefticle, which is tender to the touch ; this increafes 
to a hard fwelling, accompanied with confiderable pain. 
The epididymis, towards the lower end of the tefticle, 
is generally the hardeft part. The hardnefs and fwell¬ 
ing, however, often pervade the whole of the epididymis. 
The fpermatic cord, and efpecially the vas deferens, 
are often thickened, and fore to the touch. The fper¬ 
matic veins fometimes become varicofe. A pain in the 
loins, and fenfe of weaknefs there, and in the pelvis, are 
other cafual fymptoms. Colicky pains; uneafinefs in 
the ftomach and bowels; flatulency; llcknefs, and even 
vomiting ; are not unfrequenr. The whole tefticle is 
Dwelled, and not merely the epididymis, as has been af- 
ferted. 
The treatment of orchitis, whether local or conftitu- 
tional, does not differ eftentially from that of phlegmon 
in general. The great fympathy between the ftomach 
and the aftefled organ indicate the propriety of adminif- 
tering naufeating medicines; indeed the difeafe has been 
cured by vomiting when other means have failed. 
Genus VIII. Ophthalmia , [from oipSafyAo;, Gr. the eyr.] 
Inflammation of the Eye. Generic charaiters—Pain and 
rednefs 0/ the eye or its appendages ; intolerance of 
light; flow of tears, or other excited fecretion. 
This Genus naturally follows the preceding, where 
inflammations of various parts are treated of; “and might 
perhaps,” Dr. Good obferves, “ have been placed as a 
fpecies under Emprefma, in which cafe it fhould have 
been written opthalmitis: but it has various characters 
peculiar to itfelf, as well in regard to its fymptoms as to 
the feat of the organ, which f'eems to entitle it to the 
rank of a diftinft genus;” and accordingly he has divi¬ 
ded it into the following fpecies and varieties. 
1. Ophthalmia taraxis, (Oph. membranarum, Cullen.) 
Lachrymofe ophthalmy. The tunics of the eye-ball 
chiefly inflamed : increafed fecretion of tears. Divided 
into, 
a. Mitis: limited to the furface ; pain paflable, with¬ 
out head-ache. 
Acuta : extending to the lower part of the eye¬ 
ball ; fometimes commencing there; pain burning; 
tears perpetual and acrid ; intolerable head-ache. 
*. Ophthalmia purulenta, purulent cpthalmy ; the in¬ 
ternal furface of the palpebras afl’ociating in the inflam¬ 
mation of the eye-ball; copious fecretions of a purulent 
fluid. Four varieties. 
«. Epidemica, Egyptian ophthalmy : epidemic ; in¬ 
flammation rapid and definitive ; head-ache intolerable ; 
often fucceeded by delirium; at times remittent. 
( 3 . Metaftatica : apparently produced by a fudden fup- 
preflion of catarrhal, blenorrhoic, or other morbid dif- 
charge. The fecretion often greenifh. 
y. Intermittens : marked by regular intermifiions. 
Nearly allied to the epidemic variety. Probably produ¬ 
ced by marfli miafmata. 
S'. Infantum, purulent ophthalmy of new-born chil¬ 
dren : appearing fuddenly, and without any often Able 
caufe in new-born infants: the palpebras florid, and pe¬ 
culiarly tumid. 
3. Ophthalmia glutinofa, (Ophthalmia tarfi, Cull. Pfo- 
rophthaltnia, Ware.) The inflammation chiefly feated on 
the tarfus; its febaceous glands fecreting a vifcous and 
acrid fluid that glues and ulcerates its edges, and irri¬ 
tates the eye. 
4. Ophthalmia chronica, blear-eye, or lippitude : eye 
weak and weeping after the inflammation has ceafed; 
rednefs permanent, increafed by flight caufes. Often a 
relic or fequel of the preceding fpecies; and beft re¬ 
lieved by gentle ftimulants and aftringents, as cold wa¬ 
ter, folutions of camphor, zinc, alum, lead 5 flight illjna¬ 
tions of French brandy, laudanum, or the nitric oxyd of 
mercury in the form of an ointment. 
Sometimes the eye a flumes a general rednefs without 
pain,which is the Ophthalmia indolens of certain writers, 
For the caufes and treatment of moft of the above fpe¬ 
cies and varieties, fee the article Ophthalmia, vol. xvii. 
p. 528. 
Genus IX. Calarrhu s, [Gr. from xctlet, and jut, to 
flow.] Catarrh. This term, like Ophthalmia, has been 
ufed in various fenfes and latitudes by different authors. 
Schneider and Hoffman fhow a difpofition to extend it to 
inflammation of mucous glands in general: and Parr, 
enticed by fuch an example, has made it a genus for in¬ 
cluding 
