1842.
Report of the Medical Missionary Soriety.
661
A few remarks upon diseases of the cyc. No country in the east, and certainly not one in the west, appear to have diseases of the eye so prevalent as in China; and here it is chiefly ophthalmia and its consequences. Severe catarrhal ophthal- mia, arising from changes in the atmosphere, or from sleeping on the ground, come frequently under treatment. The solution of nitrate of silver of various degrees of strength, has been found an effectual remedy in this disease, where there is no chemosis. The simple acute and chronic conjunctivitis is also common; it is often caused by the practice of the barbers in cleansing the eyes by means of scoops and brushes. Solutions of copper and undiluted liq. plumbi suit this mild form of disease very well.
The chronic ophthalmia, with its usual accompaniments, is the most frequent and important disease of this class, especially where blood-vessels run either singly or in meshes over the cornea, render- ing it opaque and dense. Many cases of this description have been admitted into the house, and after many trials from the mildest to the strongest remedies, have been discharged with good vision. It will be observed that purulent ophthalmia and inflammation of the in- ternal tunics is very rare.
Some interesting cases of amaurosis, of various stages from slightly impaired vision to complete blindness, have come under observa- tion. Among the cases, two from diving for oysters, and two from excessive study to obtain literary rank, were the most interest- ing. One of the latter was a young man of respectable parents from Weichau, a place some distance east of Canton, where the crew of the steamer Madagascar was imprisoned. This lad was 19 years of age, and when admitted into the hospital was quite blind. He had allow- ed himself only five hours' sleep each night for more than two years, and this united with licentious habits brought on the disease. His head was hot and excited, occasionally feeling giddy, troubled with unpleasant dreams, pulse quick, spirit depressed, bowels constipated, countenance sallow, iris moving slightly on the approach of a strong light. Antiphlogistic treatment, combined with continued counter-irri- tation was pursued regularly for about three weeks, which relieved the brain and benefited the sight. Tonics, as sulphate of iron and sul- phuric acid, were now united with aperient pills and counter-irritants to the head, and from this time there was a gradual improvement pach day. The iris of both eyes moved freely on exposure to light. Head free from uneasiness, no dreanis, spirit better, and the sight sufficiently good to distinguish the color of objects, the strokes of