Diphtheritic ophthalmia : a paper prepared for the Annual Meeting of the British Medical Association at Cork, with additions / by Edward Nettleship.

  • Nettleship, Edward, 1845-1913.
Date:
[1880]
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Credit: Diphtheritic ophthalmia : a paper prepared for the Annual Meeting of the British Medical Association at Cork, with additions / by Edward Nettleship. 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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    Reprinted from 'St. Tliomas's Hospital Reports ' Vol. X, 1880. A PAPER PREPARED FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION AT CORK. WITH ADDITIONS.^ Although this disease has received a large share of attention, especially in Germany, where, in its worst forms, at any rate, it is much commoner than in other countries, there are several points upon which more information is needed, and for which we may look as much to general practitioners as to ophthalmic surgeons. The points upon which I particularly wish to invite discussion and the contribution of facts are the following four: 1. Is it desirable to retain the distinction, first drawn by Von Graefe,' between diphtheritic and pseudo-membranous^' or croupous ophthalmia ? The diphtheritic ophthalmia of Von Graefe is characterised in its first stage by solid, pale infiltration, a bloodless condition of the conjunctiva, forma- tion of very adhei'ent membrane, extreme brawny swelling of lids, and scanty thin discharge. In the pseudo-membranous or croupous cases we find a coherent pellicle of discharge adhermg but slightly to the conjunctiva, which is succulent and bleeds easily when touched; usually there is also purulent or- muco-purulent discharge. It is admitted by Von Graefe, and all later writers, that cases intermediate between these two types A short abstract was published in the ' British Medical Journal,' 1879, vol. ii. IPHTHEEITIC OPHTHALMIA. Bx EDWARD NETTLESHIP. p. 327.