_Two cases of ---- Ophthalmia, ending in Opacity of the Cornea._
SARAH HOPPING, aged 15, daughter of Thomas Hopping, boot-maker, 20, King Street, Drury Lane, and of the Blind School, Queen's Square, about nine years ago had a violent attack of inflammation in both eyes. She was taken to an infirmary, and remained there for many months, where she became perfectly blind. She was afterwards taken to two Ophthalmic Hospitals as an out-patient--one for six months, another three. The treatment generally was lancing the inner eye-lids, and applying caustic to both the eyes and temples, leeching and blistering both the neck and temples often. The left eye was altogether opaque, and did not show the least appearance of either iris or pupil when looking at it in a strong light. The right eye appeared quite lost, for there was only in the socket a small red tumour, about the size of a pea.
The vapour was applied, and at the present time the opacity is so far gone that she can see to walk alone; but there yet remains much to be removed.
Her sister Elizabeth, aged 12, was similarly affected, but the disease had not attained to the same height. She is now almost well.
_Case of Ophthalmia, terminating in an Opacity of the Cornea._
JOHN GADD, aged 31, of 16, Little Britain, bookbinder, states that he has been blind and unable to guide himself for upwards of twelve months, but for some months previously he felt himself gradually losing the sight of his right eye. He went to an Ophthalmic Institution, and in two or three days he was seized with a violent attack of ophthalmia, which he attributed to the applications used for his recovery. He did not know the nature of the ointment inserted in his eyes, but was told it was black ointment. In ten days he visited another Ophthalmic Institution, where he remained for two months. In this institution a liquid was dropped into his eye, leeches were applied every night for a week, issues were inserted in the temples, carbonate of iron was administered for six weeks, and counter-irritants were applied to the neck.
From this time he became quite blind. He then went to another Ophthalmic Institution, where he was cupped in the temples; the eyes were scarified, aperient medicines were given, and lotions used. The inflammation still continued, and he was unable to lift his head, or allow the bandages to be taken off his forehead, without experiencing the most excruciating pain.