SECT. XX.—ON HYPOPYON OF THE EYE.
Regarding hypopyon of the eyes it will be sufficient to deliver Galen’s account, which is to this effect:—“A certain oculist of our time, named Justus, cured many cases of hypopyon by shaking the head. Placing them, therefore, erect upon a chair, and grasping their head on both sides obliquely, he shook them so that we could see clearly the pus descending downwards; and, owing to the weight of the substance, it remained below, although cataracts will not remain unless fixed carefully.” And again, he says below, “oftentimes we evacuate the pus freely by dividing the cornea a little above the place where all the coats of the eye unite. This place is called by some the iris, and by others the corona.” These are the words of Galen in his work, ‘On the Method of Cure.’ After the discharge of the pus, we clean the ulcer with injections of honied water, or of the juice of fenugreek with the addition of some honey, and then apply the other treatment conformably.
Commentary. Galen recommends three methods of treatment for the cure of hypopyon; namely, by discutients, shaking, and incision. (Meth. Méd. xiv.)
Aëtius, Albucasis, and Haly Abbas, like our author, are advocates for shaking and incision. Neither of these methods is now much in use, but both have had their advocates in modern times.