Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-06-12
THE HUMAN EYE

Al one time If wasconsidered ofso it'll
impoI lance that only trihing space 8,
medical text books was occupied in 60
discussion. Now it has assumed. so musb
importance, and so varied are the disease
confined to this organ, that one finds q,
this department alone, sufficient materis
for life of study. Nothing can compen.
safe for theloss Of any special sense, and
we appear to regard the sense of sight q.
priceless, above value, and of the Creates
importance TO the possessor.
The anatomy and physiology of the eve
present abundant ground for investigated
and study, and its complex arrangemen,
makes it of peculiar interest to the attn.
dent. The lids have an external cutaneor.
surface, middle cartiliginous mater,,
which give to them form and consistenc.
and an internal mueus membrane rasec.-
ing itself upon the eyebaIl, seSreting va.
terry substance which allows free move
ment of the opposing surface withoutffc-
tion. Any one or all of their structure
may be the seat of disease, and without an
appreciation or knowledge Of their I'm.
portance or the consequences resulting
from neglect in their treatment, the di..
ease may. invade other and deeperportlop.
ofthe eye; terminating in impairment or
total loss of vision.
The eye-ban has four coats or coverings.
First, external mucus membrane, which il,
a,icentinuation of that lining the lids, and
the one most sensitive 10 the touch. Sac
ond, sclorotic or dense hard coat, which
gives to the eye its white or CLASSY. ap-
pearance, and is the one most essentials IN
giving frmness and form to the eye-bar.
This coat is changed in its character by
the interposit of transparent substance
the cornea]-which gives the appear
ance or watch glass being set into the
front of the eye. Third, choroid, g thin.
structureless coat, black in color, the OBJ
iect of which is to absorb the rays ofught:
fourth, retina, the true sentient portion Of
the organ of vision, and is q thin, almost
perfectly transparent coat, the recipient
surface of all impressions Of objects that
We see. These impressions are conducted
to the brain by the optic nerve, which
spread a network of fine, colorless. 6bres
on the inner surface Of the retina. Within
these coverings is contained the vitrious
and aqueous humors the iris, or colored
part of the eye, is &vaschIar and muscular
membrane placed behind the cornea, Is
pierced with an opening, capable of altera-
tion in size, and placed behind the iris is
the crystalline lens, through which Light
must pass before. reaching the retina. A.
though complicated as this may appear.
it is still susceptible of investigation, and
the experienced 0culist viii determine
with accuracy the seat, nsture and extent
of any disease which affects one OF more Of
structures. The most common variety Of
diseases affecting this organ is of the in
fammatory type, and it is the neglected
cases of simple inflammation which so Of
ten result in q granular" lids, ulcers and
opacIties of the cornea,' DISCRIMINATION
OF any one orau Of these tissues compos-
ing the eye, and finally complete loss Of
vision. The many " eye-washes7 so com
monty used by individuals without the d.
rection of a physician understanding fully
the treatment of diseases Of the eye, are
decidedly injurious, and a continuance Of
their use win convert the simple, durable
case into one that isuncontrolable even by
judicious treatment. However -unimpor-
. tant the disease may appear to the indi-
vidual sufferer, it should never be allowed
to continue, and no treatment instituted
except by the advice and direction Of
physician, who morep properly understands
the consequences of an injudicious appli-
cation of remedies. Cataract is a, disease
OF the crystalline lens" usually affecting
elderly persons, produced by Injuries,
over-taxation of the eyes, in. reading or
sewing, or the natural consequences Of
old age. It's treatment consists in removal
of the lens, an operation the success Of
which win greatly depend on the dexter
ty of the operator, and by subsequent use
+ of spectacles with lens to supply the place
of crystalline lens removed from the eye,
sight is fully restored for all time. 1t is
disease developed without pain, and 80
slow and gradual that the sufferer seldom
seeks medical counsel until vision is de-
stroyed, at least IN one eyes, The applica-
ton ofwashes, ointments, and the like, are
of no benefit to the disease, but may re-
suit in other and contiguous tissues which
are far from disease. Cross eyes lstraols-
mus is an affection OF the muscles which
have the power of moving the eye-balls III
any direction; but IN this instance the
power is lost, leaving the eye TO turn u or
out according to the side diseased. Al
though presenting a very unsightly sp-
pearance, 1T is still amenable totrestment
ana in the hands of a skillful operator the
power of fixing the eye in its natural po-
sition is restored. There are many mstrn-
ments devised for examination Of the eye
besides those especially employed in oper-
atoms and treatment, and tbs one perhaps
most useful to the -Oculist is the opthai-
moscope, an instrument by which we arc
enabled to look into the interior Of INC
eye and determine with accuracy inc
presence ofany foreign substance or q as
ease which has invaded the crystalline ieh'
pitTioHS humor or retina. Success IN Inc
treatment of any disease affecting the eye
depends, in a great measure, upon inc
physicians ability to determine ~ INC
use of the instrument the precise cohuI
tion of his patient.