Diseases > Domestic medicine

DOMESTIC MEDICINE. 25>
The patient’s chamber must be darkened, or his
eyes shaded by a cover, so as to exclude the light,
but not to press upon the eyes. He should not look
at a candle, the fire, or any luminous object; and
ought to avoid all smoke, as the fumes of tobacco, or
any thing that may cause coughing, sneezing, or
vomiting. He should be kept quiet, avoiding all
violent efforts, either of body or mind, and encouraging
sleep as much as possible.
Medicine.—This is one of those diseases wherein
great hurt is often done by external applications.
Almost every person pretends to be possessed of a
remedy for the cure of sore eyes. These remedies
generally consist of eye-waters and ointments, with
other external applications, which do mischief twenty
times for once they do good. People ought therefore
to be very cautions how they use such things, as
even the pressure upon the eyes often increases the
malady.
Bleeding, in a violent inflammation of the eyes, is
always necessary. This should be performed as near
the part affected as possible. An adult may lose ten
or twelve ounces of blood from the jugular vein, and
the operation may be repeated according to the
urgency of the symptoms. If it should not be con¬
venient to bleed in the neck, the same quantity may
be let from the arm, or any other part of the body.
Leeches are often applied to the temples, or under
the eyes, with good effect. The wounds must be
suffered to bleed for some hours, and if the bleeding
stop soon, it may be promoted by the application of
cloths dipt in warm water. In obstinate cases, it
will be necessary to repeat this operation several
Opening and diluting medicines are by no means
to be neglected. The patient may take a small dose