ALLIUM CEPA.
Lachrymation excessive, especially of the left eye, with redness of the eyeball after frequently sneezing. Lachrymation (not excoriating) with coryza. The lachrymation is for the most part in the evening in a warm room, the left eye weeps more and is more sensitive to the light. Sensation as if something were under the lid. Burning and smarting in the eyes as from smoke, wants to rub them.
Clinical.- Of use in acute catarrhal conjunctivitis, associated with a similar condition of the air-passages, as in hay-fever; the lachrymation is not excoriating, though the nasal discharge is (reverse Euphrasia). Dr. Liebold first recommended this drug in five drop doses of the tincture for ciliary neuralgia after cataract extraction. G.S.N. reports a case of irido-choroiditis in a young man somewhat subject to iritis. The inflammation began in the iris with the usual symptoms and, although the pupil was kept dilated with atropine, the inflammation progressed until the chemosis became excessive, the eyeball very sensitive to touch, the aqueous and vitreous so clouded that the fundus could not be seen, the vision was lost and the pain in the eye extending to the whole head, worse on the right side an aggravated at night, became almost beyond control. His nerves were completely shattered form pain and loss of sleep and it was feared that the eye was lost. Allium cepa was given in five-drop doses with most rapid relief of the pain and inflammation.
ALUMEN EXSICCATUM.
Clinical.- This substance, first recommended by Dr. Liebold, has been employed with great benefit in trachoma, by dusting the crude powder upon inner surface of the lids, allowing it to remain about a minute, more or less, and then washing off with pure water. At the same time the lower preparations are given internally. As a saturated solution in glycerine it may also he used with great benefit in trachoma and pannus.
ALUMINA.
Objective.- The upper lids are weak, seem to hang down as if paralyzed, especially the left lid; the lashes fall out; small pimples or incipient styes on the lids. Twitching of the lids, especially right upper. Redness and inflammation of conjunctiva, worse in right eyes and aggravated in the evening. Lachrymation, hot or even acrid, may be present, but absence of lachrymation predominates. Squinting of the eyes.
Subjective.- Burning and dryness in the lids every evening, with pain in the internal canthus of the left eye and much dry mucus in the morning on waking; morning agglutination; the eyes burn on being opened, with photophobia; itching in the canthi; dryness and excoriation in the internal canthi. In the eye in general the sensation are: Burning; burning on waking, especially on looking up; pressure on the yes, cannot open them; also photophobia.
Vision.- Dim vision, with a sensation as if the lids would adhere in he corners; dim vision, as through a fog, or as if hairs or feathers were before the eyes. In the evening the vision is dim and eye dry, so that she cannot use them.
Clinical.- Alumina is indicated in chronic inflammation of the lids in which there is dryness and smarting without much destruction of tissue (ulceration) and without great thickening of the lids.
Nictitation, dependent upon enlarged papillae of the conjunctiva, has been relieved.- J.H.BUFFUM.
Some cases of chronic granular lids, or loss of power in the upper lids, met with in old, dry cases of granulations, yield only to this drug. The evening dryness and dimness of the eyes, with inability to use them, have been verified in cases of chronic dry catarrh.
Dr. A Wanstall recommends Alumina very highly for both acute and chronic catarrhal conjunctivitis, especially the latter, and sends me this case illustrating its action: Miss A., aet. 18, artist, for a year or more has been unable to use her eyes at night. Him. 1/30. Eyes inflame after using; palpebral conjunctiva especially inflamed, with rough appearance on lower lids (follicular); dry scurfs on lashes. The patient declined to wear glasses. Alumina was prescribed, and in one week she reported: “I can now read with more ease at night,” and in six weeks she was entirely cured.
Alumina should be one of our most important remedies for loss of power of the internal recti (compare Conium and Natr. mur.) and for paralytic squint.
AMMONIUM CARBONICUM.
Eyes weak and watery, especially after reading. A large black spot floats before vision after sewing.
Clinical.- Ammonium carb. is especially serviceable in cases of muscular asthenopia from overstraining the eyes by prolonged sewing, etc. (Compare Ruta, Natr. mur.).
AMYL NITRITE.
Under the ophthalmoscope the veins of the disc were seen to become enlarged, varicose and tortuous; the arteries small, but not abnormally so; conjunctiva bloodshot; protruding, staring eyes sight hazy; stupefaction; dull, heavy pressure over the eyes, as if a heavy weight were within.
Clinical.- Amyl nitr. is one of the two remedies most frequently indicated n a form of ciliary neuralgia with acute conjunctivitis dependent upon disturbances in the vaso-motor system.
This drug has been found of great service in some cases of exophthalmic goitre, one case of which has been completely cured by the olfaction of Amyl. nitr. alone.-T.F.A.
Embolism of the central artery of the retina has been reported as cured y the olfaction of the Nitrite of Amyl.
ANTIMONIUM CRUDUM.
Small humid spots in the external canthus which are very painful if sweat touches them; mucus in the canthi mornings with dry crusts on the lids. Eyes red and inflamed, with itching and agglutination nights and photophobia mornings; lids red swollen and excoriated. Itching in the canthi.
Clinical.- This drug has cured, or assisted in curing, some obstinate cases of blepharitis in which the lids have been inflamed, swollen and moist, with pustules on the face; especially when occurring in cross, peevish children. (Compare Graphites.)
Marked success has been observed from the use of this remedy in scrofulous ophthalmia when occurring in cross children and characterized by pustules on the cornea or conjunctiva, with profuse mucous discharge and lachrymation; lids swollen, red, excoriated and bathed in the secretions; accompanying will be found pustular eruptions on the face, moist eruptions about and on the ears, soreness of anterior nares, swollen upper lip, etc.
ANTIMONIUM TARTARICUM.
In cross, peevish, fretful children with phlyctenular ophthalmia. The photophobia is usually quite marked but may be absent. The lids are tightly squeezed together. Redness with lachrymation.
APIS.
Objective.- Lids much swollen, red and oedematous; often everted; the upper lid hangs like a sac over the eye. Erysipelas of the lids; they are dark bluish-red and so swollen as to close the eye, following severe pains; the swelling extends around the eyes and down over the cheek. The conjunctiva becomes congested, puffy, oedematous and full of dark red veins. Lachrymation hot, spurts out of the eye. Lachrymation with burning in the eyes and with photophobia; with pains in the eyes on sewing, evenings; with pain on looking at bright objects; with severe burning and sensation of a foreign body in the eye.
Subjective.- Burning, stinging and sensation of swelling around the left eye in the superciliary ridge. Soreness of the lids and canthi, with agglutination; burning of the edges of the lids, causing lachrymation. Stinging or itching in the internal canthi, or smarting of edges of lids. Stinging in the ball and pain across the forehead; aching pressing in the lower part of the left eyeball. Fullness inside the ball, with flushed head and face,. Violent pains over the right eye extending down to eyeball. Smarting and sensation of burning in the eyes, with bright redness of the conjunctiva. Stinging pains; most dreadful pains shoot through the eye in inflammations; pains throbbing and burning; pains aggravated on moving the eyes; photophobia; eyes pain and are easily fatigued on exertion.
Clinical.- The clinical record of this drug is important, verifying nearly all its symptoms. It is especially adapted to oedematous conditions of the lids or conjunctiva, particularly non-inflammatory; inflammations with burning, biting pains; inflammations with severe shooting pains, heat of the head, red face, cold feet, etc.; erysipelatous inflammations of the lids, with adjacent smooth swelling of the face, especially with chemosis.
It is also indicated in various forms of blepharitis with thickening or swelling, such as incipient phlegmon, with great puffiness and stinging pains. Chronic blepharitis with thickening of conjunctival layer, so that the lower lid is everted.
Ulceration of the margins of the lids and canthi with stinging pains may require this remedy.
Occasionally of service in acute catarrhal conjunctivitis, if there is bright redness of the conjunctive and chemosis, with stinging pains; also in ophthalmia neonatorum, with great swelling of the lids and adjacent cellular tissue.
Various and severe forms of keratitis have been cured by Apis, although I believe its sphere of usefulness in disease of the cornea is very limited. Keratitis, with dreadful pains shooting through the eyes, with swollen lids and conjunctiva, with photophobia and hot lachrymation gushing out on opening the eyes (see Rhus). Pustular keratitis with chemosis, dark red conjunctiva and swollen lids. Ulceration of the cornea, vascular, with photophobia, lachrymation and burning pain; lids everted and often ulcerated on the margins.
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.