Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 486

1841.

Report of M. M. S. Hospital at Macao.

467

The treatment of chronic diseases is as usual less satisfactory than the acute, as the patient not being wholly disabled by the former is less anxious about recovery, and more unwilling to persevere in the mode of treatment recommended. But although there is often im- patience manifested in not receiving immediate cure, and great dread of enduring pain, yet when the patient has decided to submit to the operation proposed he generally bears it with fortitude. In minor operations, it is found better at once to perform them without con- sulting the patient, as they are completed before there is time for the fears to be excited. A few general remarks upon the tabular list of cases will close the present report.

Of the diseases of the eye which form such an essential and im-. portant class of the maladies of this people, catarrhal and chronic ophthalmia, acute conjunctivitis, granular lids, entropium, pterygium, and trichiasis, seem to be the most general. These ophthalmia, which the native physicians appear never to attempt to remedy, from neglect or irritation, usually excite a varicose state of the vessels of the con- juuctiva, and a thickened vascular condition of the cornea and tarsi, terminating in opacity, leucoma, and final loss of vision. In the ca- tarrhal and acute ophthalmia, although the practice of employing local stimulants is not recommended by some high authorities in ophthal- inic surgery, yet the use of nitrate of silver from 5 to 10 grains to an ounce of distilled water, has been found very successful, con- joined with aperients in their treatment. Strong solutions also of sub-acetate of lead, and sulphates of copper and zinc, have proved of* the greatest service in the chronic ophthalmia with granulations and opacity.

The natives of this province, especially aged persons, appear very liable to cataract, and it is hoped that the next report will contain data of some value, regarding their general character and treatment.

Cutaneous diseases also form a principal part of the diseases of the Chinese. Pustular scabies affects the lower orders to a great extent, and although often formidable in its appearance, is rapidly cured by the union of sulphur with some oxide of mercury. A similar kind of treatment has been very successful in curing psori- asis annulata.

The ulcers enumerated include ulcerations succeeding wounds, injuries, and other causes, affecting different parts of the body, but chiefly the lower extremities. They are very numerous among the working classes, arising probably from the heavy weights borne, a poor vegetable diet, or want of cleanliness. From neglect and in-