The muriate or gold is frequently employed, though the symptoms, as far as known, vary but slightly from those of the metal.
Baryta iod-In scrofulous ophthalmia when enlarged cervical glands are present.
Belladonna-In the early stages of catarrhal conjunctivitis, if there is great dryness of the eyes, with a sense or dryness and stiffness in the thickened red lids and smarting, burning pain in the eyes. Photophobia is marked. Concomitant symptoms of headache, red face, etc.
Calcarea carb.- Particularly indicated in phlyctenular keratitis and conjunctivitis and in some cases of trachoma, when due to exposure to wet. There is usually excessive photophobia and lachrymation (often acrid). The lids may be red, swollen and agglutinated in the morning. The eye symptoms are aggravated during damp weather, or from the least cold, to which the patient is very sensitive. In fat, unhealthy, strumous children with enlarged glands, distended abdomen, pale flabby skin, eruptions of the head and body which burn and itch, and cold sweat of the head. Occasionally useful in catarrhal conjunctivitis caused by working in water. Usually prescribed upon the concomitant symptoms. As the discharges are often profuse, it has been used with advantage in purulent ophthalmia, especially neonatorum, characterized by a profuse yellowish-white discharge, oedema of the lids and ulceration of the cornea.
Calcarea iod.-Indications are similar to Calcarea carb, but especially in cases where we have considerable swelling of the tonsils and cervical glands.
Calcarea hypophos.-Purulent conjunctivitis, with ulceration of the cornea, occurring in patients who are very much debilitated, and who have little vitality. In one case of gonorrhoeal ophthalmia treated by Dr. George S. Norton, Transactions Hom. Medorrhinum Soc. State of New York, 1884. where there was a moderate discharge and no pain, but with excessive chemosis, tendency to perforation at periphery of the cornea, and, in fact, the whole cornea seemed to be sloughing, Eserine 1 to 200 was instilled, and Calcarea hypophos. given with immediate and remarkable improvement of the whole condition.
Chamomilla.-Scrofulous ophthalmia in cross, peevish children during dentition and will often relieve the severity of the symptoms, even though it does not complete the cure. In ophthalmia neonatorum is often of services as an intercurrent remedy, even if does not remove the whole trouble. The cornea is usually invaded, and we have great intolerance of light, considerable redness and lachrymation. Sometimes the conjunctive is so much congested that blood may ooze out, drop by drop, from between the swollen lids, especially upon any attempt to open them (Nux).
Cinnabaris.-When the characteristic symptom of pain above the eye, extending from the internal to the external canthus (usually above, though sometimes below). The cornea is generally implicated and the symptoms of photophobia, lachrymation, etc., are severe.
Conium mac.-In phlyctenular inflammation, especially when the cornea is implicated. There is intense photophobia and profuse lachrymation upon any attempt to open the spasmodically closed lids. The pains are various, but generally worse at night. With all this intense photophobia there is very slight or no redness of the conjunctiva.
Croton tig.-In phlyctenular ophthalmia associated with a vesicular eruption on the face and lids; the eyes and face feel hot and burning, especially at night; the photophobia is marked, ciliary injection like iritis often present, and considerable pain in and around the eye, usually worse at night.
Duboisin.-Chronic hyperaemia of the palpebral conjunctiva in hyperopes.
Euphrasia.-In catarrhal conjunctivitis, especially acute, when caused by exposure to cold, and in those cases occurring during the first stages of the exanthematous diseases. In phlyctenular ophthalmia and trachoma when the characteristic objective symptoms are present. The lachrymation is excessive, acrid and burning. The discharge is profuse, thick, yellow, muco- purulent and acrid, making the lids sore and excoriated. (The secretion is also excoriating under Arsenic and Mercurius, but thinner.) Intolerance of light is generally present, though not always, and the conjunctiva may be red, even chemosis. Fluent, acrid coryza often accompanies the above symptoms.
Graphites.-Is one of our most important remedies in phlyctenular conjunctivitis and keratitis in both acute and chronic forms, but perhaps more often the chronic recurrent form. It may also be of service in the chronic catarrhal conjunctivitis. It is especially indicated in scrofulous subjects, covered with eczematous eruptions, chiefly on the head and behind the ears, which eruptions are glutinous, fissured and bleed easily. The photophobia is usually intense and the lachrymation profuse, though in some-cases nearly or entirely absent; generally worse in the morning and by daylight than by gaslight. The redness is generally marked and there may be pannus; the discharge are muco-purulent, constant, thin and excoriating. The pains are not important. The lids are red, sore and agglutinated in the morning or else covered with dry scabs, while the external canthi are cracked and bleed easily upon opening the eye. A thin, acrid discharge from the nose often accompanies the eye symptoms.
Hepar sulph.-Is most useful in the severer forms of pustular inflammation, especially of the cornea and when ulceration has commenced. Also often indicated in purulent ophthalmia if ulceration of the cornea is present. Intense photophobia, lachrymation and great redness of the eye, even chemosis. The lids may be swollen, spasmodically closed, bleeding easily upon any attempt to open them and very sensitive to touch. The discharge is considerable and of a yellowish-white color. The pains, like all the other symptoms, are severe, of a throbbing, stinging character, relieved by warmth and aggravated by cold, and usually worse at night or in the evening. Particularly indicated in scrofulous, outrageously cross children. who have eruptions and boils on various portions of the body. When hypopyon is present with the ulceration, Hepar is especially the remedy. Sometimes employed with benefit in catarrhal and in the blenorrhoeal stage of croupous conjunctivitis.
Ipecacuanha.-Is a remedy very frequently serviceable in phlyctenular ophthalmia, where there is much photophobia and redness of the eye. It has more redness than Conium and less lachrymation than the Rhus patient.
Ignatia.-In some cases of catarrhal conjunctivitis in nervous, hysterical subjects, sensation as if sand in the eyes with great dryness.
Kali bichrom.-Both croupous and diphtheritic conjunctivitis, and trachoma with pannus especially indicated when the false membrane is present, if shreds or strings of it float loose in the eye. The discharge is of a stringy character and mixed with tears. In phlyctenular conjunctivitis, especially chronic indolent cases. Absence of photophobia and redness. Pain and lachrymation are also generally absent. The eye is frequently sensitive to touch.
Lachesis.-Croupous conjunctivitis where there is a great tendency to haemorrhage, especially upon removing any of the membranes.
Mercurius.-A frequent remedy for strumous ophthalmia, especially when the cornea is involved. In ophthalmia neonatorum when the discharges are thin, excoriating and caused by syphilitic leucorrhoea. It is also one of our best remedies in gonorrhoeal or purulent conjunctivitis in either acquired or hereditary syphilitic subjects. The lachrymation is profuse, burning and excoriating, and the muco-purulent discharges are thin and acrid.
The pains are generally severe, tearing, burning, shooting or lancinating, may extend to the forehead and temples, and seem to lie deep in the bones; they are always aggravated at night, especially before midnight, by heat, extreme cold and in damp weather, and are temporarily relieved by cold water. The redness and photophobia are generally marked and may be intense, more often aggravated by any artificial light, as gaslight or the glare of a fire. The lids are often spasmodically closed, thick, red, swollen, excoriated from the acrid lachrymation and sensitive to heat or cold and to contact. The concomitant symptoms of excoriation of the nose, condition of the tongue, eruption on the face, pain in the bones, etc., etc., are of the first importance in selecting this drug.
Mercurius corr.-The pains are more severe, photophobia more marked, lachrymation more profuse and excoriating, and all the symptoms more intense than under any preparation of Mercury we have. Pustules on the cheek, enlarged cervical glands, coated tongue, excoriating coryza, etc., are usually present.
Mercurius dulc.-Calomel dusted into the eye has been employed for many years by the old school in scrofulous ophthalmia, and even now is considered one of their chief remedies. We also have found this remedy, given internally in the potencies, very useful in the severer forms of this inflammation occurring in pale, flabby, scrofulous subjects. Nose sore and upper lip swollen.
Professor of Ophthalmology in the College of the New York Ophthalmic Hospital; Surgeon to the New York Ophthalmic Hospital. Visiting Oculist to the Laura Franklin Free Hospital for Children; Ex-President American Homoeopathic Ophthalmological, Otological and Laryngological Society. First Vice-President American Institute of Homoeopathy : President Homoeopathic Medical Society of the State of New York ; Editor Homoeopathic Eye. Ear and Throat Journal : Associate Editor. Department of Ophthalmology, North American Journal of Homoeopathy, etc.