Case of Staphyloma
Extracted from theLancetof December 31st, 1842:—
"Prussic Acid Vapour.—Mr. J. C. Atkinson, of Romney Terrace, Westminster, in a letter to the Editor, dated December 26th, after a few prefatory remarks, writes on this subject as follows:—A patient, aged 28, who had rather a severe attack of variola last May, became, after the recovery, subjected to staphyloma, one of the sequelæ of that formidable complaint. In this he was treated according to the approved methods, both at two public institutions and by private practitioners, for some months, without any apparent advantage, when I was applied to; I instantly determined on a trial of the prussic acid vapour, having read in your able journal an account of this new remedy some time before. After fourteen applications the opaqueness and prominence abated considerably, and the eye is now very serviceable, and nearly as useful as the sound one, no inflammation or appearance of irritation being observable. The plan adoptedby me was most simple: the affected eye, open, was placed over a two-ounce phial, containing about half an ounce of the acid, while the patient's hand, properly directed, was to retain it in the position that was thought necessary. The time occupied in this operation was from five minutes to a quarter of an hour. The eye became in a short time inflamed, the conjunctiva exhibiting the appearance of deep injection, which gradually disappeared in a few hours, but which was not accompanied by any pain. No paralysis of any of the appendages of the eye has resulted from the application. Such is the outline of the case. I feel assured that this remedy will prove a powerful auxiliary in the hands of a surgeon-oculist."