OR INFLAMMATION OF THE EYES. 109

wise occasion this malady. A sudden transition from darkifess tovery bright light will often have the same effect.

Nothing more certainly occasions an inflammation of the eyesthan night-watching, especially reading or writing by candle-light.Drinking spirituous liquors, and excess of venery, are likewise veryhurtful to the eyes. The acrid fumes of metals, and of severalkinds of fuel, are also pernicious. Sometimes an inflammation ofthe eyes proceeds from a venereal taint, and often from a scrophulousor gouty habit. It may likewise be occasioned by hairs in the eye-lidsturning inwards, and hurting the eyes. Sometimes the disease isepidemic, especially after wet seasons ; and I have frequently knownit prove infectious, particularly to those who lived in the same housewith the patient.

It may be occasioned by moist air, or living in low damp houses,especially in persons who are not accustomed to such situations.In children it often proceeds from imprudently drying up of scab-bed heads, a running behind the ears, or any other discharge ofthat kind. Inflammation of the eyes often succeed the small-pox ormeasles, especially in children of a scrophulous habit.

SYMPTOMS.------An inflammation of the eyes is attended with

acute pain, heat, redness, and swelling. The patient is not able tobear the light, and sometimes he feels a pricking pain, as if his eyeswere pierced with a thorn. Sometimes he imagines his eyes are fullof motes, or thinks he sees flies dancing before him. The eyes arerilled with a scalding rheum, which rushes forth in great quantities,whenever the patient attempts to look up. The pulse is generallyquick and hard, with some degree of fever. When the disease isviolent, the neighbouring parts swell, and there is a throbbing orpulsation in the temporal arteries, &e.

A slight inflammation of the eyes, especially from an externalcause, is easily cured ; but when the disease is violent, and conti-nues long, it often leaves specks upon the eyes, or dimness of sight,and sometimes total blindness.

If the patient be seized with a looseness, it has a good effect;and when the inflammation passes from one eye to another, as itwere by infection, it is no unfavourable symptom. But when thedisease is accompanied with a violent pain of the head, and con-tinues long, the patient is in danger of losing his sight.

REGIMEN.------The diet, unless in scrophulous cases, can

hardly be too spare, especially at the beginning. The patientmust" abstain from every thing of a heating nature. His foodshould consist chiefly of mild vegetables, weak broths, and gruels.His drink may be barley-water, balm-tea, common whey, andsuch like.

The patient's chamber must be darkened, or his eyes shaded bya cover, so as to exclude the light, but not to press upon thefyes. He should not look at a candle, the fire, or any luminousobject; and ought to avoid all smoke, as the fumes of tobaccoor'any hing that may cause coughing, sneezing, or vomiting. He

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