Too long and tedious would be the Narration of the various Remedies, which were vainly employed in order to restore the Organ of Vision. I shall only observe that, when I was applied to, the Patient had laboured nearly Two Years under that cruel Disorder; and so weak was the Impression of Objects on his Left Eye, that I looked upon the Success of my Attempt as at best very doubtful.
Upon examining how far the natural Focus of the Rays of Light had been changed, I found that my Patient could not possibly see the Hour on a Watch, clearly, at any Distance whatever; but that he saw it less imperfectly when the Watch was at Thirty-two Inches Distance:—An Alteration of Vision the greatest I have ever known.
To add to his Misfortune, the Patient was of a scorbutic Habit; so I had two Diseases to attack instead of one.
The first Thing to be done in this Case was, undoubtedly, diluting and purifying the Humours; but among the antiscorbutic Remedies, such were to be carefully avoided as were impregnated with acrid principles; for Example, Water-cresses, bitter Plants, Tar-water, Harrowgate Water, Chalybeate Water, Elixir of Vitriol, Spirit of Sea Salt, &c. being all diametrically opposite to the aimed-at Relaxation of the rigid Parts. Accordingly I prescribed Whey and Apple-water for the sole Diet-drink, with Milk and fresh Vegetables for Food.
Not daring to venture even a small Bleeding, on Account of my Patient’s emaciated state of Health, I judged it proper to diminish the Mass of Blood, by keeping his Body open with Cassia and Tamarinds.
This Method had the desired Effect. Not only the scorbutic symptoms disappeared in Five Weeks, but one Eye was somewhat better.
No Alteration was made in the Diet; but, as the Patient’s Constitution was then not so much debilitated, I prescribed Laxatives more frequently: I likewise begun using emollient Suffumigations and Pultises. They proved so effectual as to reduce the Scale to Twenty-three Inches in Fourteen Nights.
The Patient daily gathering strength, I was no longer apprehensive of any bad Effect from Bleeding, and accordingly had him bled. Suffumigations and Pultises were continued three Weeks more, and during the interval the Scale was reduced to Sixteen Inches.
I had him bled again, and afterwards electrified. The twelfth Day the Scale was reduced to Ten Inches.
By continuing Electrization, Laxatives and Tacamahaca Plaister a Month longer, the Scale was further reduced One Inch and a Half.