MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON.

641 He is

a

very delicate

boy, aged

thirteen years and

a

half, of occasions, but evident when experimenting with the right eye closed. It may be an important circumstance in deciding

small stature, with largely-developed head, pale and thin, appetite fastidious and rather large, bowels generally tox pid, as usual in persons of this diathesis, where the nutrition is by no means proportioned to the food received. He had closely applied to his studies during the previous year or two, espe-

the pathology of this case, that an artist, in taking the portrait of this boy many weeks before his first illness, observed, and expressed in his painting, a peculiar stare or unnatural expression of the left eye, to which the attention of his parents cially to drawing, and that a good deal by candlelight. I and friends had not been previously directed. I suppose it will be at once conceded, that the affections could not detect any diminution in the power of vision; the though somewhat sluggishly, as well as the oppo- of the digestive, respiratory, and circulatory organs were pupil acted, site. He expressed himself quite well in every particular. secondary to, and consequent upon, that of the brain; and In consequence of these negative symptoms, I was inclined to whatever it may be imagined was the condition of the central believe that the projection of the eye was congenital; his nervous system, it will perhaps be as readily allowed that it digestion was imperfect. He took mercurial aperients, with was sympathetic cf that of the eye or orbit; it therefore reand the prominence subsided in about a week. mains to be decided whether the affection originated in the regulated On April 17th, 1847, he returned from school, complaining of globe of the eye, which, enlaraing, projected forwards in the pain in the left eye and forehead. He had been over-fatigued only yielding direction; or in the other tissues contained in the during the last month or more, by walking twice daily to and orbit, the tumefaction of or deposit in which protruded the eye. Master F. C-,aged about four years, having had scarlet from. school, and had been also overworked at his lessons. He took an aperient, and was much better on the next day. On fever, which passed off mildly, was soon afterwards attacked the ensuing day he became seriously ill, and necessarily con- with measles, which was unusually severe. This was followed fined to his bed; he vomited so constantly, as to reject all by erysipelas on the face and head; two days after which he, medicine, and, indeed, food. Cramps in the arms and legs, had severe pain in the left orbit, forehead, temple, and head and to a less degree over the body generally, were most pain- generally; the left eye protruded greatly beyond the orbit; ful ; the left eye projected much beyond the other. I saw the lids were closed and stretched over the globe; the pain him in consultation on Tuesday evening, and found-as far as produced by examination was excessive; general fever very my recollection will serve me-these conditions :-The surface high, with delirium. I saw him, with Mr. Chaldecott, on the of the body rather cold; the fingers and hands spasmodically 16th of April, 1845, the day following the accession of these Hexed, the forearm less so; imperfect volition in the shoulders; symptoms. The conjunctiva was very florid and injected; the lower extremities affected in the same manner, but to a the cornea dull, approaching to opacity, and in less extent; vomiting very constantly, whenever food or medi- appearance the dead eye when squeezed. He could most cine was taken, and that attended with painful cramps or probably distinguish light from darkness; but we could not spasms of the upper part of the abdominal muscles, and, pro- ascertain that he retained the function of sight, though the bably, of the diaphragm; bowels had not been relieved for pupil acted sluggishly. Mercury and chalk, in small and twenty-four hours or more; urine natural; pulse slow,-full, and frequently-repeated doses, was administered, with aperients, perhaps a little labouring, about 40; respiration corresponding; as required, and evaporating lotions to the head, eye, &c. intellect quite correct and clear; the left eye considerably bowels were soon aftected by the medicine, and the also in four days, when the prominence of the eye projecting beyond the orbit, and very noticeable in contrast with the other; the upper lid depressed; great intolerance of diminished, with a corresponding lessening of the other light; pain in the forehead and eye, and generally on that symptoms. The bowels were so far influenced as to produce side of the head. It is difficult to say whether the globe of some little alarm. The mercury was continued, in modified the.left eye was or not larger than the right, or whether that doses, from the 16th to the 25th of April, when he took some appearance was entirely dependent upon its prominence; the mild tonics; and eventually he completely recovered. A axis of the eye was correct; the transparent media were quite peculiar expression continued for some few weeks; but Mr. clear; no increased vascularity; he could detect not only light Chaldecott reports that three months after the attack the from dark, but large objects- that intervened between the light little patient was quite well in every respect, the function and his eye, but could not distinguish what they were. The and natural appearance of the eye having been perfectly retreatment consisted in allaying the irritability of the stomach stored. He regarded the pathology of the case to be effusion, by a counter-irritant over its region, effervescing salines in of serum in the cellular tissue of the orbit behind the globe, small quantity, and, I think, hydrocyanic acid; afterwards mer- which it pushed forwards; and that the necessary pressure curial purgatives and blisters to the left temple. On Thursday, produced semi-opacity, or approach to nebulous appearance. -the second day after my first visit,-the sickness-was relieved; he had passed two or three dark evacuations, and he was a little improved in every particular; but the affection of the eye MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. and head was nearly the same. I saw him every other day for I AT the last meeting, Mr. JoHN QUEKETT, the microscopic about a fortnight, during which time he gradually improved, I with occasional interruptions. The treatment essentially con- demonstrator to the Royal College of Surgeons, read a sisted of mercury in the form of mercury and chalk, two, ’, interesting paper on the importance of the microscope m of minute structures of a doubtful nature. three, or four times a day; counter-irritation, by means of the determination author stated that his object in bringing the commit* Misters to the affected side; aperients of rhubarb, castor-oil, The nication before the Society was to point out how minute &&bgr;., which were-frequently required. In the progress of the portions of skin, which had been exposed to the air for cenase, the appetite, which at first was entirely lost, became so considerable that it was. requisite to limit the quantity of his turies, could be recognised as human. There existed in this food. The first symptom that subsided was the irritable con- country certain traditions, that persons who had committed dition of the stomach and bowels, then the spasmodic affec- sacrilege were flayed, and their skins nailed to the doors of tion of the limbs; the pain of the head improved, and the churches they had robbed, as a terror to the sacrilegists; three portions of such skin had been forwarded to the gradually the eye became less prominent, less painful, and the and for examination, by Albert Way, Esq., the secretary author, function amended, but was not quite restored; as the other of Archeological Society. The first was taken from symptoms subsided, the pulse rose to its ngtural standard. The one the of the doors of Worcester Cathedral, where now only little patient was confined to his bed-room for six weeks, and to the house for two months, during which period he continued portions remain underneath the ornamental clamps and hinges.. to take the mild form of mercury, which did not affect the The second specimen was taken from the church-door of in Essex, where it had been protected, for many gums, nor in any way inconvenience him. His eye slowly Hadstock, and gradually improved until he went into the country, which centuries, by an iron grating: this portion of skin was said to be that of a Danish pirate, and supposed to be nearly 900 he did somewhat earlier than perhaps was quite prudent. This young gentleman experienced a third attack in Sep- years old. The third specimen was taken from the churchtember last, upon which occasion I did not see him, as the door of Copford, also in Essex. On all the specimens Mr. Section soon passed off. The left eye then also projected, Quekett succeeded in finding two or three hairs, which the and the sight was deteriorated. He was at this time labour- microscope clearly proved to be human. Thus this valuable instrument is able to confirm a tradition, and prove the ing under influenza and enlargement of the cervical glands, former prevalence of a practice which had been doubted by which required medicines and confinement to the house, and under this regimen the -disorder of the eye subsided. It is many archaeologists. interesting to notice that he had again returned to his studies MEDICAL APPOINTMENT.-Professor Trousseau has been J1Øoo and to exposure, though not to the same extent as formerly. His-general health is now quite good; a. dimness, of vision still minated, in the room of M. Guersant, sur.geon,at the" Hôpital

diet,

resembling

The

mouth

very

exists in th&tefeye,unapprecia)He

to, himself upon ordinary

des Enfants."

.