The treatment of inflammation of the aclerotiea must, as far as general means are concerned, be the same as for acute inflammation of the conjunctiva. The application of astringents or stimulants is use less, and sometimes injurious ; tho vapour of hot water and other warm fomentation are the local means which are most agreeable to the patient. The moderate use of mercury is generally useful. In rheumatic and gouty conditions of the system, with which this form of ophthalmia is often connected, and is then called rheumatic or arthritic ophthalmia, the treatment adapted to the general disorder should, as far as possible, be combined with those means which are proper for the local disease. [Gout; Ituzusterissr.) Inflammation of the cornea, corneitis, or keratitia, is very generally connected with some degree of the preceding. Its signs are those which are common to the inflammations of all the deep-seated tissues, namely, dull pain, intolerance of light, and profuse discharge of hot burning tears ; at the same time a few vessels passing inward from the red zone around the cornea become visible upon its surface; It loses its transparency and becomes hazy, or assumes a grayish and often opaque chalky-white hue, from the deposition of lymph between its laminx. [Lzucoare.] In very severe cases suppuration takes place in the cornea, and it acquires a yellow colour and ulcerates ; or matter is poured into the anterior chamber [Itreorrusr], or the cornea is per forated by ulcers and the iris protrudes ; or it sloughs and becomes soft and weak, so that staphyloma is produced.
The treatment of corneitia in its active state is the same as that for inflammation of the sclerotica. After the inflammation is subdued, its effects (which the situation of the cornea renders peculiarly important) admit of but little useful treatment. Tho opacity which remains, when it is superficial, is usually gradually removed, and that process may be in some degree assisted by the application of a weak solution of nitrate of silver or some other stimulant ; the ulcerations generally proceed best when left to themselves, the chasms which they leave being gradually filled up, and the yellow tinge of the cornea which accompanies them being exchanged for a gray or bluish colour •, the more serious effects, such as etaphylonts, extensive leucoma, sloughing, protrusion of the iris, ke., aro Irremediable.
inflammation of the iris has already been treated of. [Tams.) Inflammation of the membrane of the aqueous humour is not uncommon in young persona • it is marked by dullness and haziness of the cornea (which Is by the vascular red zone formed by the distended vessels of the aelerotiea), an alteratiou in the colour of the iris, which assumes a dull widish hue and a turbid or purulent appearance of the aqueous humour, with, in some men, hypopium. The proper treatment does not differ essentially from that of inflamma tion of the iris or aelerotica, with which this form of like all affections of the tissues of the eye, is very generally conjoined.
r he inflammations of the parts of the eye which are still more deeply seated are much rarer than any of the preceding; their symptoms also are more obscure, and they are seldom found uncorn bined with those of some other form of ophthalmia. Their signs are similar to those of the inflammations of the selerotice and cornea; but the intolerance of light and the lees of vision are usually greater than would arise from the degree of inflammation which exists in the visible tissues. The treatment must be similar to that for the acute inflamma tion of the iris or cornea, and be actively administered ; for the nature of the parts affected renders the least disorganisation of them of the highest importance.
All kinds of ophthalmia may either become .chronic after having existed for some time as acute diseases, or may be chronic from their commencement. Their symptoms in either case differ only in degree from those of the corresponding acute forms, and the treatment of them should be the same in principle, though less active. Counter irritation by blisters or other means, applied to the neighbourhood of the eyes, or setons in the back of the neck, are among the most useful means ; and to the milder forms of astringent lotions some preparation of opium, as the rinum opii, may be added with advantage.