HYDROCOTYLE
Clinical.- The remedy has to be of benefit in some cases of tumors of the lid especially in epithelioma. Linnell cured a case of lupus with this drug.
HYOSCYAMUS
Eyes look red, wild, sparkling. Squinting. Pupils dilated, spasmodic closing of the lids, eyes rolling about in the orbits spasmodic action of the internal rectus.
Obscuration of vision; objects seem indistinct; he is near sighted and is obliged to hold the book nearer than usual when reading. Dimness of vision as if a veil were before the eyes. Deceptive vision the flame of one light seemed smaller, than that of another larger though both were of equal size. Illusions of vision small objects seem very large.
Clinical.- A case of hemeralopia in a myopic eye, with shooting pains from the eyes into the nose and head accompanied by headache ameliorated on closing the eyes, was relieved by Hyoscyamus T.F.A.
HYPERICUM.
Clinical.- The benefit which has been observed from this remedy in relieving the pain in old cicatrices led Dr. John L. Moffat to its use in case of pain and irritation of the eye from an anterior synechia which resulted from an injury two or three years previous. The healthy eye was also irritable. Hypericum 3 relieved.
IGNATIA
Pain extending from the head into the left eye, when the eyes began to burn and water. Ciliary neuralgia. Pressure within the eye as from sand. Sensation as if a particle were in the left external canthus. pain in the inner surface of the upper lid as if it were too dry in the evening. Intense, but fitful photophobia. Constant winking, with spasmodic action of the muscles of the face.
Unable to endure the glare of light. Zigzag and serpentine, white flickering at one side of the field of vision.
Morbid nictitation, with spasmodic action of various muscles of the face, has been relieved by this drug.
Catarrhal conjunctivitis with a sensation as of sand in the eye and great dryness, may require this remedy, as in the following: A lady, artist, of dark complexion. So excessively nervous that
she started at the slightest noise, had been working late at night. She complained of one eyelid feeling as if sand were under it, with great dryness. Diagnosis conjunctivitis palp. ac. Ignatia, 3d dec, one dose, removed the feeling in half an hour.- F. PARK LEWIS.
Dr. J.H. Buffum reports the following Two “Chipping ulcers” at upper margin of right cornea accompanied by periorbital pains, sharp sticking, generally in one spot in superciliary ridge, temple or side of head. The sleep was disturbed and digestion poor. Ignatia cured in four days.
Dr. W.P. Fowler reports Trans. Am. Hom. Oph. and Otol. Soc., 1879. a case of hyperaesthesia of the retina with hysteria,” characterized by intense photophobia and ciliary neuralgia with general nervous symptoms which was cured in ten days under Ignatia 3 and proper hygienic measures.
A case of ciliary neuralgia in a women was cured very promptly by this remedy the pains were very severe extending from the eye to the top of the head, producing nausea and often alternated with swelling in the throat (globus hystericus); the pains would begin very slightly, increase gradually until they became very severe and would only cease when she became exhausted.
From a study of the clinical application of Ignatia it will be seen that its usefulness is confined almost exclusively to those ophthalmic affections which may be found in nervous, hysterical patient.
IPECACUANHA
Inflammation of the eyes. On opening the right lids. which were swollen there was a copious gush of tears. The conjunctiva of the bulb was injected and infiltrated. The cornea was dim as if infiltrated; on close examination there was noticed a number of small depressions. Intense tearing or tensive pains in the eyes. Great photophobia. Profuse lachrymation. Conjunctiva injected especially of the lid. Skin of lids red. Pupils contracted. Constant severe pain over the eyes, especially the left. Blue and red halo around a light.
Clinical.- My attention was first directed to Ipecac. as a remedy for pustular inflammation of the cornea and conjunctiva by Dr. A. Wanstall, who was led to its from an article of jousset’s recommending it as a remedy for pustular conjunctivitis. W. says: In my hands it has been as near a specific as can be, and certainly I have never handled any one drug that will cure as many cases. ” It is no doubt a very valuable remedy for phlyctenular ophthalmia, as I have had occasion to verify in many cases. It is adapted to both phlyctenules and ulcers of the cornea or conjunctiva, especially if there is much photophobia with redness and lachrymation. (con. has intense photophobia but with little or no redness of the conjunctiva or lachrymation) The cornea may be vascular. The redness of the conjunctiva lachrymation and pain are variable though are usually well marked. Nausea occasionally accompanies the above symptoms. compare conium, Hepar and Merc protoiod)
JABORANDI
Contraction of the pupil. Tension of the accommodative apparatus of the eye, with approximation of the nearest and farthest points of distinct vision. Everything at a distance appeared hazy and although he could read moderate-sized type at one foot, at two feet it was indistinct. The state of vision is constantly changing, becoming suddenly more or less dim every few moments. Twitching of lids. Eyes tire on reading. Spots before vision. Headache on using eyes.
Clinical.- In 1878 after a study of the physiological action of jaborandi upon the eye, I determined to test its value according to the law of similia in spasm of the accommodation. The results in many cases exceeded my most sanguine anticipations.
Selected from a large number of cases are the following which will illustrate its sphere of action.
CASE I.- Hyperopia et spasmus musc. Cil. James L., aet 32, complained of everything becoming black before the eyes on stooping aching of the eyes on reading and spots before the vision. V. 20/30 with concave 42, V 20/20 Ophthalmoscope showed slight hyperopia. Rx Jaborandi. 3 Three days later all the symptoms were relieved; V. 20/30
CASE II.- Spasmus musc. cil. Mr. M., aet 32 V. 20/30 concave 42, V. 20/20 For nine months, had spots before the vision and aching of the eyes upon using. In three days, under jabor. 3 vision had become 20/20 and the muscae volitantes had disappeared.
CASE III.- Myopia cum spasmus musc cil. Mr. aet 28 For seven years had been writing in a poor light all day. He thought his near sightedness had appeared within one or two years. He complained of the myopia increasing and the eye tiring on using them one and one-half hours. Fundus normal. V. 20/70 O. u. Concave 40, V. 20/20 Three weeks after using Jaborandi3 he reported that he had used his eyes more than usual and had experienced no trouble V. 20/50. Concave 50, V 20/20.
CASE IV. Hyperopia cum asthenopia Miss S., aet 40 For many months had not been able to read more than five minutes without the eyes tiring. Nausea was always produced on looking at objects moving. Jaborandi 3 relieved the nausea in twenty-four hours, and in a week she could read three-quarters of an hour without inconvenience.
The following symptoms observed in various anomalies of refraction have also been speedily relieved by this drug: Blur before the eyes at times, especially on looking in the distance. Eyes tire easily and are irritable especially on moving them. Heat and burning in the eyes upon using. Headache upon using the eyes. smarting and pain in the globes on use. Dim vision, twitching of the lids and pain in the eyeballs.
From the above it will be seen that Jaborandi is of the greatest importance in spasm or irritability of the ciliary muscle. In explanation of its usefulness in so-called asthenopia, I am inclined to believe that a large number of these cases are not dependent upon true weakness of the accommodation but upon an irritable weakness and that Jaborandi relieves by virtue of its ability to relieve reflex symptoms as in case IV., in which nausea and vertigo due to reflex irritation from the eyes were once cured by this drug. Thus far these reflex symptoms have been valuable and characteristic indications.
From examination into the general sphere of action of jaborandi it should be suggested to our minds as a remedy for serous choroiditis and in one case it has improved the vision somewhat.
It action upon the muscle seems to extend to a limited degree to the internal recti. It is therefore recommended for periodic convergent squint, for strabismus, of recent date not dependent upon weakness of the opposing muscle in which for one reason or the other it is necessary to postpone the operation and for the tendency to recurrence of squint after an operation.
Jaborandi is very similar to physostigma and Agaricus in its action upon accommodation though it has been of more service to me in spasmodic affections of the ciliary muscle than either of the two latter remedies. It is opposed to Duboisin in its action; the latter being indicated in true weakness of the accommodation while Jaborandi is called for in irritable weakness.
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.