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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    of atropine on the pupil is almost absolute, even to an hour or two. Perhaps in cases more severe than those recorded, with great eflPiision of lymph, the visible effects of atropine may be delayed till a later period. On this point I do not possess evidence. Let us now inquire how far these conclusions are justi- fied by the cases, and what are the general results of treatment. Treatment.—Of the 20 cases, eleven were treated by atropine alone, nine were treated by atropine and mercurial ointment combined. In one or two cases a dose of Dover's powder was given when pain was excessive, and in some others salines were given dm-ing the application of the mer- curial ointment if the skin were hot and not perspiring. Leeches were used, I believe, in three cases only. Two cases had taken mercury before coming under my care. Question of Syphilis and its relation to Treatment.— Thu'teen cases were midoubtedly syphilitic. Of these five required mercury, eight recovered under atropine alone. In seven, syphilis was either denied or not made out. Of these, fom- required mercury, three were cm-ed by atropine alone. Rapidity of Mercurial Effects.—Of the nine cases in which merciuy was required, one used the ointment 24 hom's, a second 24 hom's, having previously taken blue pill five days without benefit; a third and fom-th used the ointment two days, a fifth and sixth three days, a seventh and eighth four days, the ninth twelve days. So that of nine cases of iritis m which mercmy was used, one only required the application of the ointment for more than four days. Rapidity of Recovery.—Of the 20 cases, seven re- covered good sight and pupil within two weeks, one within a short time, five witliin tlu-ee weeks, three within four weeks, three within eight weeks, one within three months, the 20th was relieved firom pain with partial recovery of sight.