WESTMINSTER HOSPITAL

Holthouse
1859 The Lancet  
paired by the long-continued irritation, with consequent injury I to sight. ' These cases may usually be distinguished from those depend-f jng upon actual disease by the suddenness of the attack ; they are rarely preceded either by dimness, pain in the head, musca volitantes, flashes of fire, or any other symptoms indicating congestion or inflammation of the eye, optic nerve or brain: and in many instances they are unaccompanied by pain in the tooth or teeth, so that it is often very difficult
more » ... o convince patients that parts causing them no pain, and to them apparently so unconnected with the eye, can possibly be the cause of such serious effects upon that organ. I am indebted for the notes of the following case of ptosis and diverging strabismus to Mr. Mayou, house-surgeon of the Royal Westminster Ophthalmic Hospital :— CASE 6.-H. R-, aged twenty-nine, a native of Hereford, was admitted, under Mr. Hancock's care, into the Royal Westminster Ophthalmic Hospital on July 3rd, 1858. The strabismus had existed for three years. The ptosis is of quite recent date, about a fortnight's duration. The eye (the left) is quite closed. The mischief came on suddenly, without pain either in the head or eye. Ordered compound iron mixture, one ounce, thrice daily, with an aperient occasionally at bed-' , , time. July 12th.-Is no better. Mr. Hancock examined her mouth, and found two molar teeth on the left side of the upper jaw decayed. She assured him that they ci1used her no pain ; but he ordered them to be extracted, which was done. 14th.-The ptosis is much better. 16th.-The ptosis has now assumed an intermittent character. The eye is quite open in the morning, but towards noon the lid droops, and does not resume its proper position until the evening. To take disulphate of quinine, five grains, twice a day. 20th.-Ptosis now cured, and the strabismus better, so slight as not to require operation. The patient remained in the house three or four weeks longer, when she was discharged cured. A SIXCLE woman, aged about sixty-five, applied to me, in February, 158, on account of prolapsus uteri, from which she had suffered for three years. She looked haggard and worn, had been losing flesh, strength, and appetite for many months, and complained much of depressed spirits, dragging pain in the loins, and inability for exertion. The womb was generally down, though she could reduce it. I found it hanging between the thighs, about the size of a melon, the mucous membrane dry and glazed, of a reddish-brown colour, and superficially ulcerated. The orifice of the urethra occupied the usual position in front of the tumour, and the os uteri was seen at the lowest part of it. The womb being replaced, was found very movable, and the vagina much relaxed and enlarged. Considering the success which had attended operations for the cure of prolapsus by partial occlusion of the vagina, I determined to see if I could not apply the principle of these operations in a simpler way. I therefore directed that, now that the womb was replaced, it should never again be allowed to come down, even for a single moment; that a sort of thick pad, or cushion, of a length and breadth sufficient to cover completely the external parts, should be applied, and be kept in its place by a broad and firm T-bandage, before she again rose from the recumbent posture; that she should prepare a sufficient number of these pads and'f-bandages, should always put one on before she rose from her bed in the morning, just as a ruptured person puts on a truss, and should never go about without one; and lastly, that she should introduce every night into the vagina a few grains of tannic acid, made up into a sort of soft pill. She steadily followed the plan proposed, and at the end of two months had gained strength and flesh, and got rid of all her discomfoit. The tannic acid was now used twice a week only, but the pad was directed to be worn constantly. She still continues its use, and reports that the womb has never once come down, and that she has quite recovered her health and spirits, can walk out, and attend to her household duties, quite as well as before she became subject to the affection.
doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(02)34550-1 fatcat:ug5us5nfyvajda4nhrbexkqu2a