Volume 1

A treatise on opthalmy : and those diseases which are induced by inflammations of the eyes : with new methods of cure / by Edward Moore Noble. Part the first[-second].

  • Noble, Edward Moore.
Date:
1800-1801
    I had before observed in the cornea, to be in the anterior chamber, a very ftiort distance - from where I had first seen it, and hanging by a fmall filament of matter, in the aqueous humour, and waving, on the eye being moved. On bringing a large magnet near his eye, and moving It in different directions, the fubstance obeyed its motions, fhewing it to be iron; and though I attempted to remove it, by placing the magnet in various fitua- tions, and giving the particle of iron both a quick and flow motion, I was not able to detach it from the cornea, A few weeks afterwards he called on me again, and faid the eye was better, but rather weak, and thought if he could have fomething to ftrengthen it, he fliould foou be well. The eye ftill looked nightly inflamed, or as if it was exposed to fome fmall irritation. I particularly requested he would call again, but fince that time
    [140 1 have never feen him; I conclude, from the circumstances of the cafe, he has not expe- rienced much inconvenience from it. 6. Efsential oils, alkalies, acids, acrid juices, &c. are next mentioned, as exciting caufes of inflammations of the eyes. For their removal, recourse fhould be had to frequent ablution with warm water, and on an inflammation fucceeding, it ought to be considered, whether there has been any part destroyed, by a combination between the animal fibre and the foreign fubstance, or whether it has acted merely as a ftimu- lant, and increased and diseased actions of the vefsels been induced in consequence. In the first instance the fame directions are applicable, as are given after the eye has been burnt with lime; but in the latter case, it must be treated the fame as an Opthalmy, after the application of cold, which will be considered in the fecond part.
    7. When an Opthalmy arises from expo- sure to too much light, it generally proceeds from a predisposition of the part to diseased action. The exciting cause must be avoid* ed, and the case treated the fame as a com- mon inflammation. 8. The eighth cause mentioned, as pro- ducing Opthalmy, is the increased secretion of tears, especially with their confinement, to the eye. With respect to the Opthalmy occasioned by much weeping, from mental affections, or the almoft constant flow of tears, which attends the rubiolous eruption, I have no observations to make which are applicable to this place. It is not fo with the inflam- mation of the eyes, which, more or lefs, is brought on by the eruption of the fmall pox, when the pustules on the face are in any quantity.
    A fmall pock pustule has its margin inflamed, and fwelled, and when the pustules are numerous., the whole external furface of the body is enlarged. The pustules having the-effect of inflaming and enlarging the part, on which they arise, if fituated on the eye lids, they be- come inflamed and fwelled; they are closed, and in a fliort time very firmly fo, by an adhesive matter, discharged from the eyes. The question, then, is, whether we ought to endeavour to prevent this closing of the lids, or not. Some, from the idea that the lids, be- ing closed, are a great preservation to the eyes, will on no account allow them to be touched; but fuffer the discharge to col- lect in considerable quantities, about the edges of the lids; whilst others, from an over officiousnefs, are almost constantly endearouring to feparate them, to remove the matter as it is fecreted. Between these two practices, a due medium fhould be
    J 34S ] observed. The fwelling of the lids being the uniform effect of the pustules, cannot be abated, but by the natural course of the disease, and what we ought to attempt is, that the eyes fliould be irritated as little as pofsible, and the confinement of the tears prevented. The lids (hould be touched with the greatest gentlenefs, any matter that collects, removed with a little warm water, and the edges of the lids kept very moist by the application of fome mild ointment. The lids fhould never be free from the ointment, that it may prevent the confine- ment of the acrid tears, which is generally the cause of the fucceeding inflammation: besides, if they are kept constantly moist, there will be no danger offtrabismns^ which fometimcs is brought on, by the eye-lids being partially opened, on the the decline of the disease, and the patient endeavour- ing Iq fee. tkpygh the imall part- which admits lig-fit.