Dr. Kent's Letter.
The only other case which I intend to quote, in order to show that the recoveries are lasting when the essential oils have been employed, is the case of Dr. Kent. This gentleman continues perfectly well. It is now nearly seven years since his recovery. He had, alternate days, rubbed upon his forehead and temples, with the friction sponge, the compound clove and pimento embrocation, quoted from page 136, on "Painful and Nervous Diseases."
Friction Sponge
Friction Sponge
The following case was communicated to me, by letter, from the patient,Dr. Kent, who was for several years a physician in extensive practice at Walsall, in Staffordshire, now residing in Harley Street, Cavendish Square.
"39, Duke Street, St. James's,"April 19th, 1836.
"My dear Sir,—Thinking that an outline of the principal features in my case might be perused with advantage by many who take an interest in the success of your efforts, I have subjoined it in as concise a form as justice to the subject would admit. Upon my return from a very cold ride in a violent storm of snow and sleet, on the evening of the 29th of January, 1836, I discovered that the sight of my right eye was gone. In a few hours violent inflammation supervened, and continued several weeks, in spite of the most vigorous and energetic treatment, its principal seat being the optic nerve, and subsequently the iris. The inflammation was at length overcome, but vision was not restored; and the irritability in both eyes was so great as to render it absolutely necessary not only to avoid all attempts to use them, but also to exclude them from the light. The sight of the right eye was entirely, and, as I feared, irrecoverably gone; its pupil contracted almost to the size of a pin's point, and immoveable. I removed to the country, by the advice of the professional friends who had attended me, in the hope that, as my general health improved, the irritability would subside, although they gave meno reason to expect that the organ, originally diseased, would ever again prove of much use to me. In this opinion a medical gentleman of high celebrity, in Oxford, coincided; but he strongly recommended me to consult some of the most eminent oculists in the Metropolis. A much esteemed friend having mentioned your success in the treatment of many obstinate and almost inveterate cases, I placed myself under your care on the 2nd of April, and had the satisfaction to find, that after the lapse of three or four days, a very considerable alteration was observable in the appearance of the right eye, and that my perception of light, and afterwards of objects, became more distinct. The improvement has been regularly progressing, and I am now (the 19th of April) able to read with ease with that eye which, only three weeks ago, could scarce distinguish light from darkness. I may also add, that the irritability which so long annoyed me, ceased almost immediately after yourfirst application, and I have not since been troubled with it.
"I am, my dear Sir,
"Yours, very sincerely, and much indebted,"Benjamin Archer Kent, M.D."
"A. Turnbull, Esq., M.D., &c. &c."
THE END.
CITY PRESS, LONG LANE: D. A. DOUDNEY.
FRICTION SPONGE.See Plate, page 66.