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Show 51 or THE 'rnns'rmex'r or Inn EYE, txc. . "avg... 55",, .. Ya, ,I . ,,.V_r,~_._._,,t-_ -m. When any new membrane seems to be formed on the eye; any pustule, ulcer, or opacity, accompanied with clusters of turgid veins, or a general relaxation and fulness of the vessels, before taking the knife to these, we ought to examine if any accidental cause has existed which is now happily removed ; or whether or not by the foulness of the tongue, the want of appetite, the languor and sickness, the occasional rheumatism in the face and head, or head-ach, or any such slight alleczlons, there exists derangement in the system, or debility and x'onsequent accumulation in the stomach and bowels. We must examine well whether the local disease partakes of the character of scrophula or syphilis-The influence of these causes ought, if possible, to be removed before operating on the eye. Previous to an operation the patient should take a smart purge; from the immediate debility proceeding from this he ,llésow mo'm ought, however, to be recovered. l t E The immediate effect of a severe or protracted operation on the eye will often be a nerv- ny-r:q_-<'A smww'v" J: z" - v-t- ousness and sickness, or coldness, shivering, and head-ach; this state an opiate with an aromatic will remove, and as it will often happen, that the irritability of the stomach will prevent the medicine from beii g retained, if the opiate be given in the form of clyster to the quantity of what would be a double dose if taken by the mouth, it will cause the commo~ tion and sympathy of the frame with this most irritable organ to subside. 5'5 mains not the smart action of vessels, and the acute sensibility, but, on the contrary, a relaxed state of the parts only. There is a nicencss of observation necessary, to be able to say when the operation has ceased to produce its effect, when it may be repeated or when a caustic may be applied to assist in the cure, supposing an excrescence or tumour has been cut 011'. Even after this effect of the mere irritation of the knife might be expected to have subsided, there will often come on symp~ toms of general disorder, head-ach, and increase of heat, with restlessness and watchinrr. But the tongue, the bitter taste of the month, and nausea, point out to us the necessity of gently moving the bowels ; these symptoms will yield to quietness, low diet, and occasional clysters. This lowness of diet, we must remember, is not to be the universal order, but observing when there is a tendency to high action, or irritability of weakness present, we must half starve some, and give more generous diet to others. Above all we must guard against the complaint being fostered and supported by confinement and bad air, low diet and despond~ enee, for this reduces the system to that state which, though 'not actually disease, is particularly unfavourable to the cure of surgical diseases. RELAXA'HUN 01‘ THY, EYEIJJ). 'l‘nnnr. may be a difficulty of raising the eyelid, from an irregular motion and spasm of the orbicnlaris palpebrarumsis. There may be a difficulty of raising the eyelid, from a loss of power in the levator palpebrw superioris. There may be a relaxation of the upper eyelid, in consequence of inflammation long since subsided ; a fulness of the cellular membrane, which prevents the action of the levator muscle. In this last case a portion of it may be cut oil, so as to relieve the eyelid, which otherwise hangs over the cornea, and obscures vision; from the stimulus of the knife, should be treated with emol- lients, and the eyelids washed with tepid water. The astringent collyria should be. reserved for that stage when there r€~ I r DOW-"fa? -m-gawf. W;~.~*-<.- am... «‘7‘ ". 3 p If blood flows from the eye in consequence of the operation, it is to be promoted by bathing the eye with tepid water. tfter all operations on the eye the patient must be condemn(xl to darkness, and low diet ; a wet rag be put on the eye, the bowels must be kept open. He must not indulge in bed, nor lie with his head low, nor have his head and eye loaded with bandages and dressing. Opiates should be held in reserve as long as may be. That inflammation which proceeds RELAXATION or THE EYELID. r v_ _ .W . , . . . . tn.'... megahu n n_r.or.; afTectzon produeingit, as in hysteria |