Reflex ocular symptoms in nasal affections / by E. Gruening.

  • Gruening, Emil.
Date:
[1896]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Reflex ocular symptoms in nasal affections / by E. Gruening. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by UCL Library Services. The original may be consulted at UCL (University College London)

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    1 struction of the hypertrophic corpora cavernosa of the nose. A number of observers following in the wake of Hack's labors report equally favorable results. The immediate cessation of asthma, of hemicrania, of supra-orbital neu- ralgia, and other symptoms, as a direct consequence of the nasal treatment, argues most forcibly in favor of the reflex nature of these phenomena. To the ophthalmologist the subject of nasal reflex is of great interest. If an irritable nose may cause grave symptoms in distant parts, why should the neighbor- ing eyes, with their direct nervous and vascular con- nections, be spared ? Reflex ocular symptoms—for in- stance, lachrymation, conjunctival hyperemia, photo- phobia—may be readily obtained by touching certain parts of the Schneiderian membrane with a probe, and vice versa ; reflex nasal symptoms—forjmstance, sneezing —may be evoked by exposing certain irritable eyes to a bright light. In the cases mentioned by Hack and his followers, ocular symptoms are incidentally mentioned. Lachry- mation, photophobia, increased vascularity of the ocular and palpebral conjunctiva, pain and pressure in and around the eyes, fluttering scotoma, frequently co-existed with the graver symptoms and passed away with them, in consequence of the nasal treatment. Now, a certain group of ocular symptoms, namely, lachrymation, sensi- tiveness to ordinary light, and redness of the eyes, are presented by a considerable number of our patients, and yet the examination of their eyes reveals absolutely no anomaly. The refraction may be emmetropic, the vision normal, the conjunctiva sound, the puncta lacrymalia may be open and favorably placed, and the nasal ducts permeable. For such cases collyria have been prescribed, cold or warm applications recommended, general hygienic meas- ures enjoined—all without the slightest benefit to the patient. Knowing that the symptoms—lachrymation,