The Patient had laboured Seven Months under these disagreeable Circumstances, when he put himself under my Care.
As he was of a sanguine Habit, I had him bled twice the first Day: Afterwards I prescribed a cooling Diet, and kept his Body open with gentle Laxatives.
For Fourteen Nights together no other Benefit was received, except that the Eyes were less painful when touched; but during the Course of the third Week, the affected Parts were quite easy: Objects indeed were not distinguished at a nearer Distance, but their image was not so much mutilated.
I then had the Patient bled again, and employed emollient Suffumigations and Pultises. These being continued for Fourteen Nights, a great Change was produced in Vision; the image of Objects was no longer mutilated.
Bleeding was repeated. The next Day the Patient re-assumed his Laxatives, which he continued for a whole Week. Afterwards he was electrified in the Manner already described, and a Plaister of Tacamahaca was applied to his Temples.
Stimulating Plaisters, drawing Sparks, and diluting Infusions, removed in Five Weeks all Obstruction and Swelling of the ocular Muscles. The Sight being thus restored, frequent Lotions with cold Water alone soon compleated his Cure.
In January 1773, J. P. Esq; took Sublimate Corrosive dissolved in Spirit of Wine, with a view of eradicating a stubborn Gleet. As no Care had been taken to keep his Body open, a Salivation came on. When under this Circumstance, he inconsiderately took a Morning Ride, in a sharp Northerly Wind. At his Return Home he was seized with a sort of Quinsey: His face swelled to a monstrous Size, and his Eyes were inflamed.
To relieve him, frequent Doses of Jalap were given.
As the Patient could bear no vivid Light, and was in Danger to be suffocated whilst lying in Bed, he passed Night and Day on an elbow Chair, in a darkened Room.
When the dreadful Symptoms disappeared, on again admitting Light into his Room, he was apprehensive of having lost his Sight, but was soon made sensible that it was only altered, for there was left to him a Sensation of Objects at a certain Distance.