DACRYOADENITIS. — Inflammation of the lacryinal gland is of rare occurrence, either in the acute or chronic form. It is indicated by swelling and (-edema of the upper lid, and pain and tenderness on pressure of the gland and the adjacent supra-orbital margin. The disease may assume a purulent form, when an abscess, may open, either upon the conjunctiva or through the skin.
Acute dacryoadenitis of the inferior accessory lobules, in a man 25 years of age. The disease presented itself as a small tumor under the bulbar conjunc tiva, one centimetre up and out from the corneal limbus. Antonelli (Recueil d'Ophtal., Aug., '94).
Rheumatism, cold, syphilis, septi cmmia. and mumps have all been ascribed as the cause in various cases, while the :Tread of inflammation from the con junctiva and cornea has been noted in a number of instances.
Treatment,— Hot applications and poultices in the early stages, followed by free incision under the supra-orbital region as soon as pus has formed. In the chronic variety the local application of absorptive ointments, such as the mer curial and compound iodine, should be employed, while iodide of potassium, mercury, and the salicylates should be administered internally. In acute cases
an active calomel purge should be pre scribed, followed by large doses of quinine.
In acute inflammation of the gland. satisfactory results from the use of quinine, leeches, and mercurial inunc tions to the brow. Chronic inflammation best treated by pressure, and the local application of iodine. Galezowski (Re cueil d'Ophtalmologie, Oct., '92).
Case of symmetrical dacryoadenitis in which internal administration of iodide of potassium was followed by rapid subsidence of the swelling. Snell (Lancet, July 23, '92).
Case of non-suppurative inflammation of the lacryrnal glands occurring in a neg,ress, with a history of rheumatism. Mercuric chloride and potassium iodide, %%Rh applications of hot water to the tumors, caused cure. R. L. Randolph (Archives of Ophthal., vol. xxvi, No. 1).
TUMORS.—Neoplasms, such as sar coma and adenoma, and hypertrophy of the gland, are of rare occurrence. The latter is at times of congenital origin, but is usually an affection of later years. The gland may attain a large size, and cause serious damage to the eyeball by com pression.