CASE 5.
Case of Ophthalmia, terminating in an Opacity of the Cornea.
John Gadd, aged 31, of 16, Little Britain, bookbinder, states that he has been blind and unable to guide himself for upwards of twelve months, but for some months previously he felt himself gradually losing the sight of his right eye. He went to an Ophthalmic Institution, and in two or three days he was seized with a violent attack of ophthalmia, which he attributed to the applications used for his recovery. He did not know the nature of the ointment inserted in his eyes, but was told it was black ointment. In ten days he visited another Ophthalmic Institution, where he remained for two months. In this institution a liquid was dropped into his eye, leeches were applied every night for a week, issues were inserted in the temples, carbonate of iron was administered for six weeks, and counter-irritants were applied to the neck.
From this time he became quite blind. He then went to another Ophthalmic Institution, where he was cupped in the temples; the eyes were scarified, aperient medicines were given, and lotions used. The inflammation still continued, and he was unable to lift his head, or allow the bandages to be taken off his forehead, without experiencing the most excruciating pain.
In this state he was brought to me on the 9th of September, 1840, when I ordered for each eye two drops of the oil of almonds (after being warmed) to be put into the eyes. The relief that he experienced was so great, that he said he felt as if he were in another world. In eight days the pain had greatly diminished. He was enabled to open his eye-lids, but could discern no object whatever. I then ordered castor oil to be dropped into each eye, for the purpose of removing the opacity. He left me at the end of December, at which time he could see very imperfectly; but returned to me in January, 1843, when the opacity of the cornea still continued. He has had, almost daily, the prussic acid vapour applied to his eye. He is at the present time so well that he can read the smallest diamond print.
Staphyloma
CASE 6.
Opacity of the Cornea and Staphyloma.