On the relative value of atropine and of mercury in the treatment of acute iritis / by T. Pridgin Teale, Junr.

  • Teale, T. Pridgin (Thomas Pridgin), 1831-1923.
Date:
[cbetween 1800 and 1899?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the relative value of atropine and of mercury in the treatment of acute iritis / by T. Pridgin Teale, Junr. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    4. Those cases in wliicli atropine fails to dilate the pupil in 24 or 48 hours require mercury. In occasional cases the application of leeches renders an eye susceptible of dilatation which at &st was unaffected by atropine. 5. When mercmy is required it ought to be introduced into the system rapidly. 6. If the system is to be affected by mercury, the mercury ought to be introduced by the skin, not by the stomach. When this di'ug is introduced by the stomach the digestive powers are depressed at the very period when then- healthy fimction is most needed. When intro- duced by the skin its fall remedial effects are obtained without any impairment whatever of the powers of nutri- tion. It is my rule never to introduce mercmy by the stomach when I wish to obtain rapidly the constitutional effects of the drug. 7. In those cases which require mercury it is sufficient to render the gums slightly tender. When the gums are even slightly affected we have therein evidence of the in- troduction of mercmy into the system in quantity sufficient to turn the scale in favour of health, and carry the case to a successfid issue. Therefore the moment we find the gums undoubtedly tender, or beginning to be tender, we may suspend the drug. 8. In most cases the constitutional effects of mercury, indicated by tender gums and improvement of symptoms, may be obtained on the second, third, or fourth days, pro- vided the patient be confined to bed. Absorption of mer- cury by the skin appears to be much more rapid when the patient is confined to bed than when he is allowed to go about as usual. 9. Atropine should be used during the whole period of treatment, except where it causes great pain or increases conjunctival irritation, in wliich case it may be temporarily suspended, or dissolved in glycerine and applied to the skin. 10. That in cases requiring mercury the coincidence ot tenderness of g-ums, of reUef from pain, and of the action