Druckschrift 
Domestic Medicine : or, a Treatise on the Prevention and Cure of Diseases by Regimen and simple Medicines
Entstehung
Seite
171
URN (Seite)
  
Einzelbild herunterladen
 

INFLAMMATION OF THE EYES.

171

neck, it soon wears out, and is both more painful and troublesomethan between the shoulders ; besides, it leaves a disagreeable mark,and does not discharge so freely.

When the heat and pain of the eyes are very great, a poultice ofbread and milk, softened with sweet oil or fresh butter, may be ap-plied to them, at least all night; and they may be bathed with'ukewarm milk and water in the morning.

If the patient cannot sleep, which is sometimes the case, he maytake twenty or thirty drops of laudanum, or two spoonfuls of thesyrup of white poppies, over night, more or less, according to hisage, or the violence of the symptoms.

After the inflammation is gone orF, if the eyes still remain weakand tender, tney may be bathed every night and morning with coldwater and a little brandy, six parts of the former to one of thelatter. A method should be contrived by which the eye can bequite immersed in the brandy and water, wh'ere it should be keptfor some time. I have generally found this, or cold water andvinegar, as good a strengthener of the eyes as any of the mostcelebrated collyriums.

When an inflammation of the eyes proceeds from a scrophuloushabit, it generally proves very obstinate. In this case the patient'sdiet must not be too low, and he may be allowed to drink smallnegus, or now and then a glass of wine. The most proper medi-cine is the Peruvian bark, which may be either given in substance,or prepared in the following manner :

Take an ounce of the cinchona in powder, with two drachms otWinter's bark, and boil them in an English quart of water to apint: when it has boiled nearly long enough, add half an ounce ofliquorice root sliced. Let the liquor be strained. Two, three, orfour table-spoonfuls, according to the age of the patient, may betaken three or four times a-day. It b impossible to say how longthis medicine should be continued, as the cure is sooner performedin some than in others; but in general it requires a considerabletime to produce any lasting effects.

Dr. Cheyne says, ' that quicksilver with sulphur (TEthiop's mine-ral) never fails in obstinate inflammations of the eyes, even scrophu-lous ones, if given in a sufficient dose, and duly persisted in.'There is no doubt but this and other preparations of mercury maybe of singular service in ophthalmias of long continuance, but theyought always to be administered with the greatest caution, or bypersons of skill in physic.

It will be proper frequently to look into the eyes, to see if anyhairs be turned inwards or pressing upon them. These ought to beremoved by plucking them out with a pair of small pincers.

Those who are liable to frequent returns of this disease oughtconstantly to have an issue in one or Doth arms. Bleeding or purg-ing in the spring and autumn will be very beneficial to such per-sons. They ought likewise to live with the greatest regularityavoiding strong liquor and every thing of a heating nuality. Aboveall, lot them avoid the night-air and late studies.

I

\l