John Wright, a porter, aged 23, No. 10, Bear Yard, says that he has been nearly blind in the right eye from small-pox, since he was two years old. Five years since he was attacked with violent ophthalmia, in consequence of exposure to cold. He then applied to one of our Ophthalmic Institutions, where he remained as an out-patient for eight months. For the first six months he had, thrice a week, caustic applied to his left eye, after which black ointment for the remainder of the time; but without receiving benefit. He then went to another institution, where he remained an out-patient for seven months. The treatment here consisted in dropping into the eye a liquid, and at other times a powder was shaken into it, from which he derived no benefit. He then consulted a private practitioner, who relieved him; but, not satisfied with this, he went to another surgeon, who said that the cause of his blindness was owing to a little squint, and he submitted the eye to be operated upon for that purpose; but no good was derived from this operation. None of the medical men attempted to do anything to the right eye.

In September, when I first saw him, his left eye was very much diminished in size, and the cornea studded with white spots; the vision very imperfect, and constantly discharging water. The right eye was so opaque that neither iris nor pupil was to be seen, and he could only see the shadow of an object.

On the 23rd of January the left eye had got tolerably clear and free from all specks, but still subject to water when exposed to the wind.

The right eye is now becoming transparent, and vision in it is improving. He states that it will soon be the best eye.

CASE 2.

Opacity of the Cornea from Inflammation.

Ann Fitzgibbons, aged 13, daughter of Thos. Fitzgibbons, 11, Stratton Mews, is a day scholar at the Blind School, Queen Square.

Her father states that in infancy she lost the left eye, owing to an attack of inflammation. The right eye four years since became similarly affected. She has been a patient at two Ophthalmic Institutions, where she attended for several months without any benefit. She was brought to me by her father on the 1st of October, 1842, who stated that for the last four years she had been obliged to be led, and could only discern the shadow and outline of objects, but could not distinguish them.

On examining the left eye, I found it shut, and all the humours lost. The right eye was much diminished in size, and the cornea was very opaque, excepting at the upper part, where a small portion of light was admitted. The bottle containing the acid was held to the left eye as well as to the right, to ascertain what effect would be produced. To my surprise, in the period of a month the chambers of the eye became partially filled with aqueous humours, to the extent of at least half the size of a healthy eye; the pupil was small, but the patient could not see in the slightest degree. The right eye has become almost transparent, and she can now see with it sufficiently well to be able to go anywhere. Indeed, her sight has become almost perfect. The change is so great that many are disposed to question the identity of the girl, and the father is frequently asked whether the girl is really his own daughter, whose eyes were so disorganized.

CASE 3.

Inflammation, ending in Opacity of the Cornea in the right eye and Staphyloma in the left.

William Grindley, aged 37, boot-maker, formerly of 16, Whitecomb Street, Pall Mall, East, now of St. James's Workhouse, states that he was attacked with acute inflammation in both eyes in 1839. He at first had the advice of private practitioners, and subsequently went to two different Ophthalmic Hospitals. He remained in one eleven months, in the other fifteen. It appears from his own account that his sufferings were very great, for he asserts his eyes and eye-lids were swollen very much. The treatment consisted in bleeding, cupping on the temples, lancing frequently the eye and eye-lids; caustic was applied to the eyes, and seatons to the nape of the neck; leeches. The patient had two caustic issues in the temples; he was salivated, and had administered to him various potent drugs.

On the 9th of August he was sent to me from the Board of St. James's Workhouse, when he could scarcely discern light from darkness. He said that he had been led about for the last three years. The left eye was afflicted with staphyloma, and was perfectly opaque. The cornea of the right eye was covered with a dense opacity, so much so that no appearance of iris or pupil could be discerned through it. The right was not so unnaturally prominent as was the left eye. The vapour in this case was daily applied, and the progress of cure was so rapid, that in the course of a month he was able to come to me from St. James's without his accustomed guide. At Christmas he obtained permission from the Board to be absent for a few days for the purpose of visiting his wife and children. It was his wish to see the faces of those near and dear to him; for in his former visits he could only hear them talk, for not one glimpse of their countenances was he able to obtain. The cornea of the right eye is rapidly becoming transparent. The convexity of the left eye is still considerable, but the opacity is so far removed as to give evidence that a continuation of the medicine will render it again perfect, although it must take a considerable time to effect so desirable an object.

CASE 4.

Two cases of —— Ophthalmia, ending in Opacity of the Cornea.

Sarah Hopping, aged 15, daughter of Thomas Hopping, boot-maker, 20, King Street, Drury Lane, and of the Blind School, Queen's Square, about nine years ago had a violent attack of inflammation in both eyes. She was taken to an infirmary, and remained there for many months, where she became perfectly blind. She was afterwards taken to two Ophthalmic Hospitals as an out-patient—one for six months, another three. The treatment generally was lancing the inner eye-lids, and applying caustic to both the eyes and temples, leeching and blistering both the neck and temples often. The left eye was altogether opaque, and did not show the least appearance of either iris or pupil when looking at it in a strong light. The right eye appeared quite lost, for there was only in the socket a small red tumour, about the size of a pea.

The vapour was applied, and at the present time the opacity is so far gone that she can see to walk alone; but there yet remains much to be removed.

Her sister Elizabeth, aged 12, was similarly affected, but the disease had not attained to the same height. She is now almost well.

CASE 5.

Case of Ophthalmia, terminating in an Opacity of the Cornea.

John Gadd, aged 31, of 16, Little Britain, bookbinder, states that he has been blind and unable to guide himself for upwards of twelve months, but for some months previously he felt himself gradually losing the sight of his right eye. He went to an Ophthalmic Institution, and in two or three days he was seized with a violent attack of ophthalmia, which he attributed to the applications used for his recovery. He did not know the nature of the ointment inserted in his eyes, but was told it was black ointment. In ten days he visited another Ophthalmic Institution, where he remained for two months. In this institution a liquid was dropped into his eye, leeches were applied every night for a week, issues were inserted in the temples, carbonate of iron was administered for six weeks, and counter-irritants were applied to the neck.

From this time he became quite blind. He then went to another Ophthalmic Institution, where he was cupped in the temples; the eyes were scarified, aperient medicines were given, and lotions used. The inflammation still continued, and he was unable to lift his head, or allow the bandages to be taken off his forehead, without experiencing the most excruciating pain.

In this state he was brought to me on the 9th of September, 1840, when I ordered for each eye two drops of the oil of almonds (after being warmed) to be put into the eyes. The relief that he experienced was so great, that he said he felt as if he were in another world. In eight days the pain had greatly diminished. He was enabled to open his eye-lids, but could discern no object whatever. I then ordered castor oil to be dropped into each eye, for the purpose of removing the opacity. He left me at the end of December, at which time he could see very imperfectly; but returned to me in January, 1843, when the opacity of the cornea still continued. He has had, almost daily, the prussic acid vapour applied to his eye. He is at the present time so well that he can read the smallest diamond print.