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OPHTHALMY, OR
I
quantity may be let from the arm, or any other part of thebody.
Leeches are often applied to the temples, or under the eyes,with good effect. The wounds must be suffered to bleed forsome hours, and if the bleeding stop soon it may be pro-moted by the application of cloths dipped in warm u ater. Inobstinate cases, it will be necessary to repeat this operationseveral times.
Opening and diluting medicines are by no means to beneglected. The patient may take a small dose of Glauber'ssalts and cream of tartar every second or third day, or a de-coction of tamarinds with senna. If these be not agreeable,gentle doses of rhubarb and nitre, a little of the lenitiveelectuary, or any other mild purgative, will answer the sameend. The patient at the same time must drink freely ofwater gruel, tea. whey, or any other weak diluting liquor.He ought likewise to take at bedtime a large draughtof very weak wine whey, in order to promote perspiration.His feet and legs must frequently be bathed in lukewarmwater, and his head shaved twice or thrice a week, and after-wards washed in cold water. This has often a remarkablygood effect.
If the inflammation does not yield to these evacuations,blistering plasters must be applied to the temples, behind theears, or upon the neck, and kept open for some time by themild Mistering ointment. I never knew these, if long enough1 pt open, fail to remove the most obstinate inflammation ofthe e;> es ; but, for this purpose, it is often necessary to con-tinue the discharge for several weeks.
When the disease has been of long standing, I have seenvery extraordinary effects from a seton in the neck, or be-twixt the shoulders, especially the latter. It should be putupwards and downwards, or in the direction of the spine,and in the middle between the shoulder-blades. It may bedressed twice a day with yellow basilicon. I have knownpatients, who had been blind for a considerable time,, recoversight by means of a seton placed as above. When the setonis put across the neck, it soon wears out, and is both morepainful and troublesome than between the shoulders ; be-sides, it leaves a disagreeable mark, and does not dischargeso freely.
When the heat and pain of the eyes is very great, a poul-tice of bread and milk, softened with plenty of sweet oil or