Observations on the Ophthalmy, Psorophthalmy, and Purulent Eyes of New-Born Children; To Which Are Added Remarks on the Epiphora, and Fistula ... Catheter and on the Treatment of Haemorhoids

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1805. Excerpt: ... ON THE PURULENT EYES OF NEW-BORN CHILDREN. On the Purulent Eyes of Netv-born Children. J. HE Tunica Conjunctiva is defended from the acrimony of the tears, by a soft thin mucous fluid, which is supposed to issue from innumerable small perforations, dispersed, according to Winslow, all over its surface. This fluid, in its natural state, is very small in quantity; on which account, being also pellucid, it is undiscernible by the naked eye: nevertheless, it is liable, by an irritation or inflammation of the parts which furnish it, not only to be increased greatly in quantity, but to be so altered and changed in quality, as very much to resemble pus itself, both in consistence and colour. Such, I suppose, was the state of St. Yves's patient, which has before been considered (page 29;) and which he, in my opinion attributed, erroneously, to the Metatasis of a recent venereal virus. To the cases re K ferred ferred to in his account, a few others might be added: nevertheless, I cannot but observe, that such instances are very rarely to be found; nor, in common, is the disorder, in patients of this class, altogether the same as in newborn children. In the latter, it first discovers itself by a redness in the eye-lids, which, also, in a short time, swell to a size so large, as to prevent their being separated, without the utmost difficulty: after this, a constant discharge of thick yellow matter soon succeeds; which, if the lids can be separated will be seen to spread over the eye, so as entirely to cover it. In common, both eyes are affected nearly in the same manner: and, in bad cases, whenever the child cries, the inside of the lids is turned outward; which is also the case, whenever an attempt is made to separate them with the fingers. This is sometimes the co...