Mercury.-Syphilitic affections, diphtheritic conjunctivitis, interstitial keratitis, iritis, opacities of vitreous, sympathetic ophthalmia, choroiditis, acute and chronic, retinitis albuminurica. neuritis, neuroretinitis, atrophy of the optic nerve.
Arsenic, Zinc, Argentum nitricum, Phosphorus.-Various affections of the nerve and retina.
Strychnia.-Neuro-paralytic ophthalmia, cataract, retinitis pigmentosa, amblyopia, amaurosis (genuine and hysterical), exophthalmic goitre.
Digitalis, Phosphoric acid, Ergot, Atropia, Strophanthus, Tonics and Sedatives.-Exophthalmic goitre.
Digitalis.-Diseases characterized by feeble circulation and weak heart, such as ischaemia retinae, retinitis albuminurica, with vascular degeneration (also calling for Carbonate of ammonia), amblyopia, amaurosis.
Muriate of pilocarpine, Infusion of jaborandi.-Amotio- retinae, staphyloma of sclera (in gouty patients), iritis, sympathetic ophthalmia, acute choroiditis, neuritis, neuro- retinitis.
Quinine.-To check threatened inflammation after cataract operations, cellulitis, iritis.
Aconite, Gelsemium, Conium.-Blepharospasm.
Bromo coffein.-Hysterical amblyopia.
Nitro-glycerine in 1/100 gr. doses.-Retinitis apoplectica with high arterial tension.
Mineral acids.-Cellulitis orbitae.
Turpentine, Colchicum. -Iritis.
Phosphoric acids, Phosphates.-Cataract.
I believe this to be a fair and impartial resume of ophthalmic therapeutics from the Old School point of view. It is not difficult to recognize the unconscious Homoeopathicity of many of their more specific applications; at least, we use the same drugs in attenuated doses, with success, in the same disease, only studying the particular and minute indications for them according to the law of “similia.” The essential difference between their therapeutics and ours is noticed here as in all departments of medicine, viz., they prescribe for diseases while we prescribe for the individual. Which is the more scientific?.
In contrast with this array, I will simply call attention to the detailed and specific symptomatology of the one hundred and forty remedies mentioned in the latest and best Homoeopathic treatise, that of Dr. Norton, already mentioned. While this list does not comprise all the resources of our school-for almost every remedy in the Materia Medica may be found curative of eye diseases under appropriate conditions-I offer it as a fair exponent of Homoeopathic treatment in contrast with the resume of Old-School therapeutics just given. It is not a compilation of theoretical and empirical indications, but is made up of thoroughly trustworthy and, for the most part, verified indications.
Experience has demonstrated them to be reliable guides for the choice of the remedy. But it may be argued that this is mere assumption on my part. It certainly would be presumptuous to expect any one to accept such an assertion without satisfactory evidence, and while I cannot demonstrate to the sceptic here and now the truth of my statement by adducing overwhelming evidence in proof of the value of remedies prescribed upon such a basis, yet I can affirm what the Homoeopathic treatment of eye diseases has accomplished, what it is accomplishing every day in hospital and private practice, and what can be demonstrated to the satisfaction of any fair-minded investigator who cares to give the matter sufficient time and thought.
What, then, are some of the verities of Homoeopathic ocular therapeutics?.
I. -The action of constitutional remedies, such as Ars., Graph., Calc., Sulph., Nut.mur, and Sil. in hereditary or acquired conditions of malnutrition and in the various dyscrasiae.
II. -The action of Acon., Bell., Apis., Verat. vir. and Rhus in controlling inflammatory conditions, erysipelas, cellulitis, etc.
III. -The action of Hepar, Sil. and Rhus in suppuration, of Gels. in serous, and absorbing haemorrhages.
IV. -The action of Arnica, Crotalus, Ham., Lach., and Ledum in arresting and absorbing haemorrhages.
V. -The action of Sil., Calc., Aurum., Kali iodide, etc., in diseases of bone and orbit, morbid growths, periostitis, etc.
VI. -The action of Amyl nit., Ferrum., Lycopus, Spongia, Nat.mur, and Ars. in exophthalmic goitre.
VII. -The action of Puls., Apis., Alum., Merc., Ars., Euphrasia, Argent. nit., Rhus., etc., in catarrhal conjunctivitis, ophthalmia neonatorum, specific blenorrhoea, etc., arresting inflammation, moderating discharge, preventing corneal complications and averting many cases of blindness.
VIII. -The action of Aurum., the Iodides, Baryta, the Kalis, Sil., Graph., Hepar., and Merc., on corneal tissue, healing ulcers, resolving infiltrations, clearing nebulae, and thus often avoiding minor operations, such as scraping of ulcers and phlyctenules, the use of caustics and the galvanic cautery, and of paracentesis.
IX. -The influence of Merc., Bry., Cedron, Rhus, Clem., Col., Spigelia and Potash in iritis, shortening very much its course under Old-School methods, averting sequelae and rendering narcotics unnecessary.
X. -The undoubted influence of Caust., Sulph., Sepia, Phos., Sil. and Iodoform in arresting and delaying the development of cataract, and even clearing opacities of cortex.
XI. -The influence of Bell., Bry., Gels., Aurum., Phos., Merc., Kali mur. and Kali iod. in various forms of choroiditis and retinitis.
XII. -The beneficial effects of many remedies, especially of Nux and Phos., in inflammatory affections of the optic nerve and in atrophic conditions, cerebral and spinal.
These are some of the solid facts of Homoeopathic therapeutics which cannot be controverted.
As our knowledge of Materia Medica increases, especially as the pathogeneses of drugs are more accurately and scientifically developed, our success will be measurably increased. There is some evidence as to the efficiency of Gels., Bry., Col., and other remedies in glaucoma, but the well-known influence of eserine and iridectomy makes it unjustifiable to withhold them in the majority of cases.
The symptomatology of Osmium gives us a very suggestive picture of glaucoma. It ought to be helpful, though I am not conversant with any positive clinical evidence in proof of its efficacy. When a careful record of the tension, of the acuity and of the field of vision and of the ophthalmoscopic appearance of the fundus appears in our provings, then we may hope to dispense with myotics and iridectomy in the treatment of this disease.
The influence of some of our remedies in checking the development of cataract, and of materially improving vision by the resolution of cortical opacities has been abundantly proved, and affords a striking instance of the superiority of Homoeopathic ocular therapeutics. Where do we find any such results from Old-School treatment as those published in recent years by some of our specialists of recognized ability, whose statements are trustworthy, and whose diagnoses are beyond question? The experience of Dr. Wm. R. King, [See Journal of O., and L., April, 1891.] of Washington, with Iodoform is especially noteworthy.
The treatment of cataract with remedies must, of course, rest upon a constitutional basis. Eye-symptoms alone do not afford sufficient data for the choice of a drug. The underlying condition is the important point to consider.
An interesting illustration of the value of such a method of prescribing, and also of the fact previously noted, that a remedy may cure an eye-affection when indicated by constitutional symptoms, even though its pathogenesis contains nothing to indicate its special action on the eye, is afforded by a case of ptosis cured with Bromine 6x by Dr. Bissell, of Rochester, reported in the Journal of O., O. and L., for October, 1889. Bromine was selected on account of diarrhoea, eructations, pain like needles at the epigastrium and physometra.
Bisulphide of carbon is worthy of trial in retrobulbar neuritis. Cases of poisoning suggest it Homoeopathically to this affection. It has produced in several cases, “diminution of vision, central scotoma, vision better in the evening, loss of appreciation of color, central scotoma for colors, and narrowing of eccentric field,” without ophthalmic changes in the fundus oculi. Hirshberge described in one case “an alteration of the macula characterized by the presence of whitish nodules.” These visual disturbances are associated with nervous symptoms, such as muscular weakness of the limbs, cramps in the legs and abdomen, diminution of hearing and headache. [See article by H.H. Crippen in O., O, and L., April, 1891].
Malignant growths of the eye and lids have seldom been materially influenced by remedies, yet we now and then see a gleam of light in this direction which encourages us to hope for better results in the future. Such hints from accurate observers should be carefully noted and remembered, and therefore I desire to call your attention to the report of a case of sarcoma by Dr. W.S. Searle, of Brooklyn. [+ Journal of O., O. and L., February, 1892.] A blind eye had been removed, and microscopical examination demonstrated the correctness of a previous diagnosis by Dr. H. Knapp, viz., spindle-called sarcoma of the choroid.
