By reference to the symptomatology it will be seen that it must be an important remedy in paralysis of the muscles, especially weakness of the accommodation in which it has often been of great service.
CROCUS SATIVUS
Objective.- Visible twitching of the lids, with a sensation as if something must be wiped from the right eye. Inclined to press the eyes tightly together from to time. Pupils dilated. Excessive photophobia and lachrymation.
Subjective.- Sensation of soreness in the lids. Feeling in the eyes as though he had wept very violently. After reading a while (even during the day) the eyes pain with a sore burning and some dimness so that he was frequently obliged to wink. Feeling as of biting smoke in the eyes. Feeling as though water were constantly coming into the eyes only in the room, not in the open open air.
Vision.- The light seems dimmer than usual as if a veil were between the eyes and the light is frequently obliged to wink and wipe his eyes. as though a film of mucus were over them sudden flashes before the eyes like electric sparks.
Clinical.- The use of crocus has been chiefly limited to the relief of individual symptoms arising in the course of various diseases as indicated by the verified symptomatology.
The chief benefit has been observed from its use in asthenopic troubles, in which the above symptoms are especially found.
The feeling in the eyes as from violent weeping especially if complicated with the sensation as if something were alive in the abdomen is well marked and has been relieved by crocus.
The following clinical symptoms have also disappeared under the use of this drug pain in the eye to the top of the head (Cimicif., Lach) pain in the left eye darting to the right. A sensation of cold wind blowing across the eyes (Fluoric acid) Constant winking with suffusion of the eyes in tears – J.T. O’CONNOR.
CROTALUS HORRIDUS
Yellow color of the eyes. Blood exudes from the eye. Pressure and oppression above the eyes. Blue rings around the eyes Burning and redness of the eyes with lachrymation.
Clinical.- The chief sphere of action for Crot. in common with the other snake poisons as suggested by Dr. C. Th. Liebold, is to be found in intra-ocular haemorrhages. It has appeared to hasten the absorption of extravasations into the vitreous, though more favorable results have obtained from its use in retinal haemorrhages. It has been of service in the extravasations into the retina dependent upon various forms of retinitis, but it is especially adapted to those cases which result from a degeneration of the vessels and are non-inflammatory in origin in which it is more frequently indicated than Lachesis. The latter is however very similar to Crot. in its action upon intra- ocular haemorrhages and general indications must decide between the two.
CROTON TIGLIUM
Inflammatory redness of the conjunctiva. Copious Lachrymation.
Violent pains in the eye. Tensive pain above the right orbit. Lids oedematous. Stinging in eyeball. Sensation as of a string pulling eyeball back into head.
Clinical.- Croton tig may be called for in pustular eruptions upon the lids either with or without corneal or conjunctival complications, especially if accompanied by vesicular upon the face or head. (Ant, crud., if pustules are confined to the margins of lids.)
That it is an important remedy in herpes zoster ophthalmicus was illustrated in the case of a child in which a vesicular eruption, with much redness of the surrounding integument, appeared along the course of the nerve on the right side of the forehead after very severe pain. The pain continued after the appearance of the eruption and was so violent the child could not sleep at night. Some of the vesicles were filled with pus. Crot. tig. 30 gave immediate relief after Rhus 30 had proved of no avail.
In phlyctenular keratitis and conjunctivitis it has been employed with benefit especially if associated with the characteristic eruption upon the face and lids; the eyes and face feel hot and burning the photophobia is marked and ciliary injection deep, with considerable pain in and around the eye, usually worse at night.
CUNDURANGO
Clinical.- This drug has been very useful in superficial ulceration of the cornea, with varying amount of redness photophobia and pain if accompanied by sores or cracking of the corners of the mouth.
CUPRUM ACETICUM
Clinical.- The acetate of copper has proved beneficial in insufficiency of the external recti muscles.- J.H. BUFFUM.
CUPRUM ALUMINATUM
(The preparation of aluminate of copper most commonly employed is the so-called “Lapis divinus” which is composed of equal parts of sulphate of copper nitrate of potass. and alum.)
Clinical.- The aluminate of copper has been successfully used to a great extent in trachoma to which condition it seems especially adapted. The results obtained are usually more satisfactory than those found from the sulphate of copper, which is the main reliance of the old school in the treatment of this disorder. It is used by application of the crystals to the granulations, at the same time giving the remedy in the potencies internally. Cuprum al. has been of service in conjunctivitis pustulosa with inflammation of the lids though it cannot be often indicated in this affection.
Benefit has been derived from its use as a local application to opacities of the cornea. Its irritative action serves to stimulate the absorption of the new cells in the cornea which result from inflammation.
CUPRUM SULPHURICUM
Clinical.- The sulphate of copper is one of the most efficient local applications employed by the old school in many superficial troubles of the eye, chief among which may be mentioned granular lids although it has also proved beneficial in both catarrhal and purulent conjunctivitis.
CYCLAMEN
Swelling of upper lids, with a sense of dryness and pressure. Flickering of light and various colors before the eyes Burning in the eyes. Double vision from a squint dependent upon helminthiasis. Disturbances of vision that seem to be associated with indigestion or uterine irregularities.
DIGITALIS
Pupils dilated. Objects seem green or yellow. In the evening while walking it seemed as though the upper part of the field of vision was covered by a dark cloud. Margins of the lids red, swollen and agglutinated in the morning. Slight photophobia.
Clinical.- This remedy is reported to have been beneficial in some cases of superficial inflammation of the eye. But I have never had occasion to confirm its usefulness in ophthalmic inflammation.
Something benefit seemed to follow the use Digitalis in detachment of the retina, especially in relieving such disagreeable symptoms as wavering before the eyes and the appearance as if everything were green.
DUBOISIA
(The sulphate of Duboisin is more commonly used than the whole plant Duboisia, but as the two are so similar in action both will be considered under the above heading).
Objective.- Lids slightly oedematous Agglutination of lids in the morning. Dilatation of the pupil. Vessels of the optic disc much enlarged and tortuous so as to be easily visible. Disc red and outline indistinct. Retinal veins dilated and tortuous. Retinal arteries diminished. Fundus of the eye generally very hyperaemic.
Subjective.- Eyes hot and dry. Eyes feel tired as if overworked. Pain in eyeball, just beneath brow. Sharp pain in the upper part of the eyeball.
Vision.- Complete paralysis of the accommodation could not read at any distance and could not look at food while eating on account of pain. Can read better and the print looks blacker at double the usual distance. paralysis of the accommodation takes place before dilatation of the pupil and continues after the latter has recovered.
Clinical.- From a very valuable paper upon the clinical and physiological action of Duboisin, by Dr. Charles Deady, in the Trans. of the Am. Hom. Oph. and Otol. Soc., 1880, the following conclusions upon its usefulness in diseases of the cornea and conjunctiva are cited: The result obtained in the cases of ulcer of the cornea in which it has been used are sufficiently good to warrant a trial in cases which prove intractable under other remedies. So far as we have been able to observe it seems to be adapted to a slow form of ulcer more or less deep and without severe photophobia and lachrymation in cases of superficial ulceration or in which much photophobia was present we have thus far obtained no benefit from its use.
“The drug has been successfully used in several cases of chronic hyperaemia of the palpebral conjunctiva, involving extent the border of the lids. The symptoms calling for its use in this condition strongly resemble those of Aconite viz., bright redness of the papebral conjunctiva with heat and dryness of the eye. the difference between the two drugs consists in the fact that the hyperaemia which Duboisin cures is a chronic affection, such as is found in hyperopes and which is not always relieved by the use of glasses.”
In diseases of the fundus, especially of the optic nerve and retina Duboisin has proved as might be expected an important remedy. It is of the utmost value in hyperaemia of the retina as sociated with weakness of the accommodation.
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.