5790. Squinting

5790.      Squinting. It is well known that in infancy there is not unfrequently a tendency to squint; this often passes away as the child increases in age; but it sometimes becomes quite a fixed habit, requiring a surgical operation for its permanent cure. A means of rendering this operation unnecessary by curing the tendency in early life has been suggested, which is worthy of trial. A pair of spectacles is procured without any glasses in them. One of the orifices opposite the eye that squints is to be filled with thin horn or with ground glass, and in tho centre of the horn or glass is to be made a small hole. It is obvious that to see with the squinting eve it is necessary for the child to look directly through tho orifice in the centre. He will thus acquire the habit of looking forward towards an object, instead of looking to the right or left hand of it. It is not at all improbable that tho slight squint, which in infancy is apparently only a habit, may be remedied by this means.

5791. Treatment of Styes

5791.    Treatment of Styes. A stye is a small boil which projects from the eyelid, much inflamed, and very painful. The application of ice to tho part will sometimes check it in the beginning. Apply a poultice of linseed meal, or bread and milk, and take at the same time an aperient. If the stye is ripe, puncture it, and then apply spermaceti ointment.

5792. To Treat a Black Eye

5792.    To Treat a Black Eye. This is usually caused by a blow. If attended with inflammation and pain, wash the eye often with very warm water, in which is dissolved a little carbonate of soda; or with equal parts of tincture of opium and water. If the pain bo acute, foment with a decotion of stramonium leaves, simmered in spirits. "Wash the eye, and bind on the leaves; often repeat. Perhaps tho best application is a poultice of slippery elm bark. Mix with milk and put it on warm.

5793. To Cure a Black Eye

5793. To Cure a Black Eye. To remove tho discoloration of the eye, bind on a poultice made of the root of Solomon's seal. Culpepper says it is available for bruises, falls, or blows, to dispel tho congealed blood, and to take away tho pains, and the black and blue marks that remain after the hurt. The root may bo washed, the dark-colored skin carefully cut off, then scraped like horseradish, and applied direct to tho eye in tho way of a poultice, cold. A tingling sensation is tho consequence; when this sensation ceases, another fresh application should be made, and repeated until the whole discoloration is absorbed. It is often found sufficient to apply the scraped root at bed-time to tho closed eye, when the blackness has disappeared by the morning. Or: Moisten with tepid water, and then with a piece of lint apply pure extract of lead; continue to keep the lint wet with the extract for a couple of hours. Leeches ought not to be used. A lotion often used by surgeons with advantage is prepared thus: Take nitrate of potassa and sal-ammonia, each 1 part; water, 48 parts; vinegar, 4 parts. The part bruised to be kept wet with this by means of a bandage.