A word concerning the etiological relationship of epidemic influenza to chronic glaucoma / by G. E. de Schweinitz.

  • De Schweinitz, G. E. (George Edmund), 1858-1938.
Date:
[1891]
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A word concerning the etiological relationship of epidemic influenza to chronic glaucoma / by G. E. de Schweinitz. 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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    A WORD CONCERNING THE ETIOLOGICAL RELATION- SHIP OF EPIDEMIC INFLUENZA TO CHRONIC GLAUCOMA. By G. E. DE SCHWEINITZ, A. M., M. D. PHILADELPHIA, PA. That the prime etiological factor of glaucoma is constitutional, to quote the title of one of Dr. Richey's papers on this subject, has been maintained from time to time and certain systemic diseases have been given the role of exciting agents, particularly rheumatism and gout, the latter affection including the uric acid diathesis in the widest acceptation of the term. Some observers believe that influenza may play a similar part. For example, Zentmayer and Posey'^^ in their clinical study of 167 cases of glaucoma simplex, found an increased frequency of this disease during the decade in which influenza manifested itself with un- usual severity, and suggested that this increased frequency is due to the deleterious influence of this affection. In my own analysis of 63 cases of chronic glaucoma with special reference to the field of vision influenza* was thought to have exercised an exciting influence 7 times. The case which follows is recorded because it furnishes a suo-2:es- lion as to the manner in which epidemic influenza may cause the oph- thalmoscopic appearances to which v/e give the name chronic glaucoma, and why, therefore, during seasons vv^hen this disease is prevalent non- inflammatory glaucoma seems to be more frequent. Mrs. A., aged 56, consulted me on the 26th of April, 1900, and gave the following history: Six weeks prior to her visit she had an unusually severe attack of influenza, which confined her to her bed for ten days. Convalescence had set in^ when she went out, the day being somewhat windy, and suffered a relapse. With this relapse there was almost complete blindness of the right eye, associated with pain on movement and pressure. She was treated very judiciously by her fam- * Archives of Ophthalmology, 1895, Vol. XXIV, p. 378. * Annals of Ophthalmology, 1899, Vol. VIII,