SECT. XVI.—CHALAZIA OR TUMOURS RESEMBLING HAIL-STONES.
The chalazion is a concretion of inert fluid in the eyelid. If it occur on the external side of the eyelid, having divided the outer part of the eyelid transversely with a scalpel, we extract the chalazion with an ear-pick, or some such instrument, and when the incision is large and the lips thereof separated, we unite them with a suture, and have recourse to some plaster. But if it be small we omit the suture and effect the cure in the same manner otherwise. But if the chalazion be internal, so as to appear through the cartilage, having turned the eyelid outwards, and divided it transversely within, we extract it and use an injection of salt water.
Commentary. Aëtius says that the contents of the chalazia, in some cases, resemble the white of an egg. These he directs us to open, and, having evacuated their fluid contents, to touch the part with a powder consisting of verdigris, burnt copper, and other such escharotics. When the contents are harder he recommends complete excision, like our author. (vii, 83.)
Celsus describes the mode of operating with his usual terseness:—“Hæc incidi debent, si sub cute sunt, ab exteriore parte, si sub cartilagine, ab interiore, dein scalpelli manubrio deducenda ab integris partibus sunt.” (vii, 7.)
The descriptions of the operation given by Albucasis and Haly Abbas, if not literally copied from our author, are altogether to the same effect.
Rhases and Avicenna approve most of the treatment by medicines. See [Book Third]. Jesu Hali directs us to avert the eyelid and extract the tumour. Fabricius ab Aquapendente says that the fluid contained in the chalazion (gresle) is “blanche et transparente, en quelque façon comme de la gresle.” He repeats the directions given by Celsus. (Œuv. Chir. ii, 11.)
The chalazion is evidently an encysted tumour of a soft nature, and is not identical with the hordeolum, as Scarpa makes it to be. The treatment here recommended is such as admits of no improvement.