Conjunctivitis from the continued use of chloral is reported by forty-one of my correspondents, œdema by thirteen, and photophobia by thirteen.
Sixteen report “weakness of vision,” nine report “double sight,” one cataract, one sudden blindness disappearing on discontinuance of the drug, one ptosis, four amblyopia, and six asthenopia. Two cases of temporary blindness from chloral are also reported. This was in non-habituès. Keyser,[95] of Philadelphia, reported the case of a gentleman accustomed to sixty and eighty grain doses of chloral, who suddenly became blind. Opthalmoscopic examination revealed great retinal anæmia. The drug was discontinued, and in a few days sight was restored.
Schüle[96] demonstrated that in chloral takers the retina was congested. The same condition was observed by Bouchut[97] in the retina of children completely anæsthetized.
Burke Haywood,[98] of North Carolina, observed an elderly man, who, after some weeks’ use of chloral, began to complain of dimmed vision, which persisted and increased till the drug was withdrawn, when it gradually disappeared.
The case of ptosis is reported by Dr. H. C. Bigelow, of Washington, D. C., as follows:—
“Female, aged thirty years, married, spare build, nervous temperament, and active mind. Grains thirty to sixty, daily, for eighteen months. Emaciated, hysterical, constipated, flatulent. Temper irritable. Ptosis of the right eye, commencing iritis and photophobia. Ulceration of os uteri. Had an orgasm while being examined. Vaginismus; sexual appetite strong, but dislikes her husband and marital intercourse. Suffers from insomnia, loss of memory, mental unsteadiness. She ascribes all these symptoms to chloral.”
Dr. N. C. Husted, of Tarrytown, N. Y., reports to me the case of a lady who has used the drug in from ten to twenty-grain doses, for about eighteen months. She is troubled with partial amaurosis and excessive lachrymation.
Dr. Edward Bradley, of this city, reports to me the case of a lady who took twenty grains of chloral, three times a day, for some time. Eyesight gradually failed, and she was soon obliged to wear glasses. Her eyes were thoroughly examined, and nothing abnormal was found. On discontinuing the chloral the eye trouble speedily disappeared. The effects of the drug on the general system, especially the digestive apparatus, was very marked. The habit was broken without trouble.
For a full discussion of the subject here presented in outline, the reader is referred to my article in the Record, already spoken of.