Malaria and fundus changes / by Freeland Fergus.

  • Fergus, A. Freeland (Andrew Freeland), 1858-1932.
Date:
[between 1900 and 1920?]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Malaria and fundus changes / by Freeland Fergus. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    malaria affecting the optic nerve, the retina and choroid, yet it is a possible explanation of many conditions which has perhaps not received from practitioners in the United Kingdom, who have never practised in the East, sufficient attention. At the time of Mr. Z’s first visit I put him on mild doses of iodide of potassium and nothing more. Presently I shall have something to say as to the propriety of giving arsenic in such cases. The only other item which perhaps may be added to the reports of the year 1914 is that about the middle of December of that year he had an attack of ague, and on that account he missed a consultation which had been arranged. In a communication to my patient of date 10th December, 1914, I definitely said : “It is quite possible that all the trouble you have in your optic nerve is due to ague but it would help me to determine this matter if you can let me know if the trouble in the eyes began before or after the attack of ague.” From his reply I learned that he had suffered from ague, and that with considerable severity, for a matter of 12 years. Perhaps a digression in this place may be permitted as to my views of the treatment of a case such as I was here dealing with by means of arsenic. Personally I would be much averse to giving that remedy in any disease in which I found disturbance in the optic nerve structure. It has often a very deleterious effect and may produce disastrous results in the way of nerve atrophies when employed even in doses which are usually con¬ sidered quite legitimate. That arsenic will often produce nerve atrophy is a perfectly well known fact. The arsenical preparation called soamin, a much vaunted remedy, caused optic nerve atrophy in a considerable proportion of the cases where it had been exhibited. Timeo Teutonos et dona jerentes. In one case which came under my observation I am of opinion that the newer remedy neo-salvarsan did the same thing. The patient was a man getting up in the twenties and who