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Home Medical and Vet Remedies, as Recommended by 19th and 20th century Doctors and Vets! |
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Home Medical and Vet Remedies, as Recommended by 19th and 20th century Doctors and Vets! |
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Inflammation of the Cornea.It is an obstinate and prolonged affection which usually lasts several months. In most cases it begins in one eye and progresses until it reaches a certain stage, when the second eye also becomes affected. Symptoms. - Inflammation of the cornea generally begins with a slight redness of the white of the eye at the edge of the cornea. This redness ordinarily begins as several distinct patches, which subsequently spread so as to run together. The eye becomes very sensitive to light and irritable. The cornea soon begins to look cloudy and white, and the vision is correspondingly impaired. After a time the cornea, instead of being clear and transparent as in the natural state, looks like a window pane that has been breathed upon, or like a piece of ground glass. There is usually an increased amount of secretion from the eye, and frequently much pržin in and around the organ. After lasting several months, the cornea gradually loses its tmnatural appearance, and in the course of a year or eighteen months frequently exhibits a perfect recovery. In many cases, however, the acuteness of vision is somewhat impaired, and there often remains a diffuse cloudiness of the cornea. In unfavorable cases the inflammation proceeds so far as to cause ulceration of the cornea, in which case there remain permanently white spots in different parts of it. These cause more or less interference with the sight of the eye, according as the dots are located in the middle or at the edge of the cornea. Treatment* - In every case of inflammation of the cornea the patient requires constitutional treatment. It is necessary to ascertain carefully just what the defects in the patient's system may be, and to employ those measures which are best adapted to the relief of this condition. If the patient be a scrofulous child, he should have a teaspoonful of cod-liver oil three times a day, and fifteen drops of the syrup of the iodide of iron ; the latter may be given in a teaspoonful of water after meals. If the child have a syphilitic taint, it is necessary to employ remedies which will counteract this virus. For this purpose we may rub a little mercurial ointment into the skin behind the ear every night, keeping a strict watch upon the condition of the patient's mouth to avoid salivation. Internally we may administer one of the following prescriptions: Syrup of the iodide of iron, - - Six drachms. Glycerine, ----- One ounce. Water, ----- Two ounces. Mix and take a teaspoonful after meals. If this do not agree with the child's stomach, we may order the following: Iodide of potassium, - - - Two drachms. Citrate of iron and quinine, - - Two drachms. White sugar, - One drachm. Water, - - - - - Four ounces. A teaspoonful of this may be taken at mealtimes. Whenever the child is suffering from marked debility, more benefit will be derived from residence in the country than from medicines or applications to the eyes, for the improvement in the general health is always followed by actual improvement in the condition of the eye as well as by diminution in the distress experienced by the little patient. As for the eye itself, but little can be done directly. If there be great intolerance of light and profuse discharge from the eyes, they may be washed several times a day with cold water and protected by a light bandage. The habit of wrapping the eye tightly in several folds of a handkerchief is a serious mistake, since the condition of the eye is much aggravated by the heat of the bandage. It will be better in all cases to avoid the use of bandages, and to protect the eyes by means of colored glasses. This is indeed absosolutely necessary if there be great sensitiveness to light. In mild cases the blue glasses will afford sufficient protection and be least unsightly; but if the dread of light be excessive, the patient should wear glasses of a neutral tint. The best form is the large curved spectacle, whereby the eye is sufficiently protected from light and wind, but is not heated. If much pain be experienced in the eye, relief may be obtained by making a fomentation as follows : Extract of belladonna, - Sixty grains. Dissolve this in a pint of boiling water ; saturate a piece of lint or a soft handkerchief with the warm lotion, and apply it folded to the eye. Instead of this fomentation the following eyewater may be used : Sulphate of atropia, - Two grains. Distilled water, - - - One ounce. Two or three drops of this may be dropped into the eye twice a day. But first, if you want to come back to this web site again, just add it to your bookmarks or favorites now! Then you'll find it easy! Also, please consider sharing our helpful website with your online friends.
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