CASE 14.
Congenital Amaurosis.
George Pritchard, aged 7 years, son of Edward Pritchard, cab-driver, Black Bull Yard, Gray's Inn Lane, and one of the scholars at the Blind School, Queen Square.
This patient has been totally blind from birth. His case has been examined by almost all the eminent oculists of London, and has been taken to several hospitals; but all the medical men, without one exception, stated that they would not prescribe for him, as they could do nothing for him.
He was brought to me in May, 1840, at which time the eye appeared more than half sunk in each orbit, and the pupil, when exposed to the action of strong light, was fixed and immoveable. In fact, he had not the slightest perception of light.
Two drops of castor oil were put into his eye daily, for the space of three months, before the pupil manifested a disposition to act. At each successive month there was a visible change in the size of the eye. When he left me, in Dec., 1840, he was not able to discern more than light from darkness.
He has visited me since the month of April, 1842, and has had, once or twice a week, the vapour of the prussic acid applied to his eye. He is now so improved that he is beginning to distinguish one object from another, and the eye is assuming a healthy appearance. From the progress that this boy has made the last two months, I think it probable that the medicine may ultimately effect much greater good.