OPHTHALMIC THERAPEUTICS



Ten days after removal, a secondary growth “of the size of a chestnut” was removed from the orbit, and Phos. and Tarentula cubensis were prescribed. The former was chosen on account of general constitutional indications, and the latter from its reputation in inflammatory affections of connective tissue, especially in boils and carbuncles. After their use there was no return for nine months.

Then the growth again returned to as light extent, but under a renewal of the former prescription the nodule shrivelled and dropped off within a week, and the doctor wrote me recently that there had been no recurrence of the disease up to present time, a period of two years since the second operation.

These remedies are worthy of trial in similar cases, and i would also remind you of the published experience of the late Dr. George S. Norton and of Dr. French in the treatment of glioma retinae with Ceanothus Americanus, the fluid extract of red clover blossoms. [See O., O. and L., April, 1890, and Trans. Am. Inst, 1884.].

The value of Cinnabar as a remedy for ciliary neuralgias has been often demonstrated, where the indication of “pain extending from the inner canthus around the brow” is present, but we owe to Dr. H.C. French a confirmation of the following indication for its employment, viz., “a full, heavy feeling in the whole head, temporarily lessened by pressure.” “Shooting pains in the forehead.” “Sticking and itching in both canthi and in the forehead.” The patient had been under Old-School treatment for two years, and Dr. French gave him great relief in a few hours, and cured him in less than three weeks with Cinnabar.

The curative influence of Agaricus in spasmodic affections of the lids and ocular muscles has log been recognized, but its influence in amaurosis and hysterical amblyopia was first suggested to me by an article by Dr. Rounds. [+ See Journal of O., O. and L., October, 1891.] Some slight impairment of vision is suggested in the proving of the remedy, but that a total blindness of both eyes-“only slight perception of strong light remaining”-should be entirely cured, and perfect vision restored after the patient had been blind for several years, is certainly surprising and worthy of note.

The sight of the right eye was suddenly lost after a blow upon the head four years before treatment was commenced, and that of the left eye as suddenly and completely failed after exposure to rain. For two years she could not tell night from day. The only other treatment employed was galvanism, and as this was used without avail for two months before prescribing Agaricus it seems reasonable to attribute the recovery in large measure to the medicine, although electricity was continued at irregular and increasing intervals during the time of treatment. Nystagmus, nictitation and other nervous and hysterical symptoms led to the choice.

The ophthalmoscopic examination was negative. Fifteen drops of the tincture of Agaricus were taken daily in divided doses for a period of eight months, when the patient was discharged with perfect vision in each eye, and entirely free from nystagmus, etc. She has since earned her own living as a stenographer and typewriter.

Experience has repeatedly proved the efficacy of Gelsemium in various diseases of the eye, especially where serous exudation exists, and in paretic affection of the muscles, but Its Homoeopathicity to amaurotic affections is suggested by the following observation of Dr. W.A. Phillips. In a certain patient, 5 gtts. doses of the tincture invariably produced the characteristic symptoms of giddiness, headache and heaviness of the lids, followed by almost total loss of vision.

At one time the accommodation failed first, while at another the sensibility to retinal impression seemed to precede the loss of adjustment. In forty minutes after the five drops were taken the vision was reduced to 3/200. It could not be improved by lenses, and this diminution continued from five to fifteen minutes. Normal vision returned in from one-half to two hours. No ophthalmoscopic changes were observed. [See O. and O., April 1, 1890.].

Paris quadrifolia is a valuable remedy in certain cases of asthenopia. The sensation “as if the eyes were being drawn back into the head by cords” is a reliable indication for its employment, and led the writer to select it, and to effect a gratifying cure of chronic headache. Dr. French cured with Paris a paralysis of the external rectus where this symptom was present. He also emphasizes the following as trustworthy guides for its use, viz., “inability of fix the eyes steadily upon anything; eyes seem swollen, as if their orbits were to small, so that the eyes could not be easily moved.” [+ See Journal of O., O. and L., January, 1889.].

Kalmia is helpful is certain cases of asthenopia. Dr. Boyle has had gratifying success with it in episcleritis and tendonitis, [++ See Trons N.Y. State Sac., 1891.] where the patient complained of “soreness of the eyeballs to touch and motion” “Injection of the conjunctiva, chemosis around the cornea.” “Feeling of stiffness of the muscles.”.

The pathogenesis of Cannabis sat. and Cannabis ind. exhibit a striking similarity to pterygium, and they ought to be curative of that condition. They have been curative in vascular condition of the cornea, and Dr. Wanstall cured with Cannabis ind. a case of pustular keratitis, with pterygium-like injection of the conjunctiva. [See Norton’s Ophthalmic Diseases and Therapeutics.].

Chrysophanic acid should be remembered in cases of chronic ciliary blepharitis, especially in scrofulous, ill-nourished children. The writer on one occasion prescribed an ointment composed of eight grains of the acid to an ounce of vaseline, to be cautiously used on the edges of the lids. The patient, thinking if a little was good a great deal was better, applied it freely over all the lids and conjunctiva. A very inflammation followed, but the blepharitis was permanently cured.

The homoeopathicity of Colocynth to iritis characterized by burning, sticking, cutting pains, extending from the eyes into the head, increased at night and by stooping, lessened by pressure and walking in a warm room, was exemplified by an experience of the writer, where the disease, if not primarily caused as there seemed reason to believe, was without doubt markedly aggravated by the use of a hair wash containing Colocynth. [+ See North Am. Journal of Homoeopathy, 1887.].

The successful use of hypericum in injuries of parts rich in nerves, and in pains from old cicatrices, led Dr. Moffat to prescribe it with benefit in pain arising from anterior synechiae after the patient had suffered several years.

In conclusion, let me again emphasize the need of careful examinations of the eyes of persons, and the accurate record of variations of tension, of visual disturbances, of skilled specialists, in order that subjective symptoms may be correctly interpreted, and our symptomatology be more scientific and reliable. Every committee of provers, every Materia Medica laboratory should have a competent oculist.

Let me urge upon our specialists the duty of careful prescribing, of painstaking detailed records, and of publication of successes and of failure with remedies Homoeopathically prescribed, that we may attain greater accuracy in prescribing, that our knowledge of the positive effects of drugs may be extended, and that we may achieve greater success in the treatment of eye-affections according to the law of “Similia Similibus Curantur,” and relegate operative measures and local treatment more and more to positions of a secondary importance. The day is surely coming when Homoeopathy will be universally recognized as the “Science of Therapeutics,” and when the Homoeopathic specialist will be the exponent of the highest degree of scientific and skilful treatment.

DISCUSSION.

J.H. BUFFUM, M.D.: Dr. Linnell has presented to the Congress an able epitome of the present status of ophthalmic therapeutics, which must carry with it the conviction of truth. Perhaps, in no department of medicine have such advances been made in diagnosis, prognosis, and pathology, as in that of ophthalmology, until it has now become one of the most exact and scientific in the domain of the healing art.

Small as the organs of sight are, as compared with other organs of the human body, their relation to the whole animal economy is such as to carry with it need for a full knowledge of not only the anatomy, physiology, and pathology, of all organs, but also their dependence, in health or disease, to the various affections of the eye. On the other hand, the ophthalmologist has been able to determine the exact relation which certain conditions of the eye, either physiological or pathological, bear to various diseases which are termed reflex and general.

As Homoeopathic ophthalmologists, we should carry our Homoeopathy into our practice, not only as followers of the wisdom and philosophy which emanated from Hahnemann, who gave us a universal law of cure, but also, because we owe it to our clients who confide their cases to us and expect to be cured homoeopathically, primarily, and secondarily only, when we have failed from a want of knowledge of our Materia Medica Pura.

E H Linnell