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OPHTHALMIA, OR

is generally quick and hard, with some degree of fever. Wherthe disease is violent, the neighbouring parts swell, and there is athrobbing or pulsation in the temporal arteries, &c.

A slight inflammation of the eyes, especially from an externalcause, is easily cured ; but when the disease is violent, and contin-ues 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 in the head, and contin-ues long, the patient is in danger of losing his sight.

Regimen. — The diet, unless in scrophulous cases, can hardly betoo spare, especially at the beginning. The patient must abstainfrom every thing of a heating- nature. His food should consistchiefly of mild vegetables, weak broths, and gruels. His drinkmay be barley-water, balm-tea, common whey, and such 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 the eyes.*He should not look at a candle, the fire, or any luminous object ;.and ought to avoid all smoke, as the fumes of tobacco, or anything that may cause coughing, sneezing, or vomiting. He shouldbe kept quiet, avoiding all violent efforts, either of body or mind,and encouraging sleep as much as possible.

Medical treatment. — This is one of those diseases whereingreat hurt is often done by external applications. Almost everyperson pretends to be possessed of a remedy for the cure of soreeyes. These remedies generally consist of eye-waters and oint-ments, with other external applications, which do mischief twentytimes for once they do good. People ought, therefore, to be very-cautious how they use such things, as even the pressure upon theeyes often increases the malady.

Bleeding, in a violent inflammation of the eyes, is always neces-sary. This should be performed as near the part affected as pos-sible. An adult may lose ten or twelve ounces of blood from thejugular vein, and the operation may be repeated according to theurgency of the symptoms. If it should not be convenient to bleedin the neck, the same quantity may be let from the arm, or anyother part of the body.

Leeches are often applied to the temples, or under the eyes,with good effect. The wounds must be suffered to bleed for s«_mehours, and if the bleeding stop soon, it may be promoted by theapplication of cloths dipt in warm water. In obstinate cases, itwill be necessary to repeat this operation several times.

Opening and diluting medicines are by no means to be neglect-ed. The patient may take a small dose of Epsom salts, and cream

* The best kind of shade for tender eyes is formed by extending green gauze onwire properly constructed. By this contrivance the access of too much light is effect-ually impeded, while there is no interruption to the free access of the air, bo that theeyes are not heated by this, as by the common shades of silk, or spectacles of preeaglass. A. P. B