On examining the left eye, I found it shut, and all the humours lost. The right eye was much diminished in size, and the cornea was very opaque, excepting at the upper part, where a small portion of light was admitted. The bottle containing the acid was held to the left eye as well as to the right, to ascertain what effect would be produced. To my surprise, in the period of a month the chambers of the eye became partially filled with aqueous humours, to the extent of at least half the size of a healthy eye; the pupil was small, but the patient could not see in the slightest degree. The right eye has become almost transparent, and she can now see with it sufficiently well to be able to go anywhere. Indeed, her sight has become almost perfect. The change is so great that many are disposed to question the identity of the girl, and the father is frequently asked whether the girl is really his own daughter, whose eyes were so disorganized.
_Inflammation, ending in Opacity of the Cornea in the right eye and Staphyloma in the left._
WILLIAM GRINDLEY, aged 37, boot-maker, formerly of 16, Whitecomb Street, Pall Mall, East, now of St. James's Workhouse, states that he was attacked with acute inflammation in both eyes in 1839. He at first had the advice of private practitioners, and subsequently went to two different Ophthalmic Hospitals. He remained in one eleven months, in the other fifteen. It appears from his own account that his sufferings were very great, for he asserts his eyes and eye-lids were swollen very much. The treatment consisted in bleeding, cupping on the temples, lancing frequently the eye and eye-lids; caustic was applied to the eyes, and seatons to the nape of the neck; leeches. The patient had two caustic issues in the temples; he was salivated, and had administered to him various potent drugs.
On the 9th of August he was sent to me from the Board of St. James's Workhouse, when he could scarcely discern light from darkness. He said that he had been led about for the last three years. The left eye was afflicted with staphyloma, and was perfectly opaque. The cornea of the right eye was covered with a dense opacity, so much so that no appearance of iris or pupil could be discerned through it. The right was not so unnaturally prominent as was the left eye. The vapour in this case was daily applied, and the progress of cure was so rapid, that in the course of a month he was able to come to me from St. James's without his accustomed guide. At Christmas he obtained permission from the Board to be absent for a few days for the purpose of visiting his wife and children. It was his wish to see the faces of those near and dear to him; for in his former visits he could only hear them talk, for not one glimpse of their countenances was he able to obtain. The cornea of the right eye is rapidly becoming transparent. The convexity of the left eye is still considerable, but the opacity is so far removed as to give evidence that a continuation of the medicine will render it again perfect, although it must take a considerable time to effect so desirable an object.