INFLAMMATION OF THE EYES.
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tion of the eyes proceeds from a venereal taint, andoften from a scrophulous or goaty habit. It maylikewise be occasioned by hairs in the eye-lids turn-ing' inwards, and hurting- the eyes. Sometimes thedisease is epidemic, especially after wet seasons; andI have frequently known it prove infectious, parti-cularly to those who lived in the same house withthe patient. It may be occasioned by moist air, orJiving- in low damp nouses, especially in persons whoare not accustomed to such situations. In childrenit often proceeds from imprudently drying up ofscabbed heads, a running behind the ears, or anyother discharge of that kind. Inflammations of theeyes often succeed the small-pox or measles, espe-cially in children of a scrophulous habit.
SYMPTOMS.—An inflammation of the eyes is at-tended with acute pain, heat, redness, and swelling.The patient is not able to bear the light, and sometimeshe feels a pricking pain, as if his eyes were pierced witha thorn. Sometimes he imagines his eyes are full ofmotes, or thinks he sees flies dancing before him. Theeyes are filled with a scalding rheum, which rushesforth in great quantities, whenever the patient attemptsto look up. The pulse is generally quick and hard,with some degree of fever. When the disease is vio-lent, the neighbouring parts swell, and there is athrobbing or pulsation in the temporal arteries, &c.
A slight inflammation of the eyes, especially from anexternal cause, is easily cured; but when the disease isviolent and continues long, it often leaves specks uponthe eyes, or dimness of sight, and sometimes blindness.
If the patient be seized with a looseness, it has a goodeffect; and when the inflammation passes from one eyeto another, as it were by infection, it is no favourablesymptom. • But when the disease is accompaniedwith a violent pain in the head, and continues 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 patient must abstain from every thing of a heatingnature. His food should consist chiefly of mild vege-
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