DEP/DUA/1/30/09 (Transcript version)

David Minto

(1782-1783)

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David Minto.

Affect to which this patient subj. both simple & obv.

And as little doubt respecting cause to which to be attrib.

In following some nosol. would give his affect name of Caligo.

Which however may obs. is very vague & extens genus.

But partic so as defind by Dr Cull. For accord to his defin, [illegible] not only Cataracta but also sever spec. of Amauros of Sauv.

And can be no doubt, that includes affect, essent diff both in nature & mode of treatm

Hence cannot I think with prop. be included under one genus.

But diff. thence arising, removed by species into which has div. it.

In case before us an example of that species which Dr. C. in his [syst], has stild Caligo Cornea.

And accord to Mr Sauv. name of Caligo [a] Leucomate.

Nor is there more room for diffic resp. nature than name.

In case before us, has occured in conseq. of repeated inflam. to which subject

And from this cause, such want of opacity transpar. every day obs. to arise.

Prob. conseq of effus of gluten acquir solid state, in same manner as inflam exud, on other parts.

But whatever cause, opacity [indeed] such, that passag. of rays of light obstr.

In so much that vision often much dimin, sometimes as in case of our patient, almost totally lost.

When occur restorat of vision to be brought about only by remov.

Sometimes of such size & thickness that can only be effect done by operat.

But in other cases even where consid affects vision, will yet grad wear off, without any applic

While seldom however that either requires or admits of former treatm. rarely that pat. are willing to rest satisf. with latter.

And many diff pract. prop & employd, with view of forward remov.

For this purp. recourse advised to be had, even to variety of intern. med.

Partic mercur, cathart, &e.

But from these may safely venture to assert that no benef to be expt.

While on contrary if pushd to great extent, cannot fail to be prod of danger. conseq.

Only remed to be used with safety or advant are diff extern applic.

Of these greater part operate on prin. merely mechan.

And not a few of them, of such nature, that prod of inconv from irrit.

Esp. if happen not to be reduced to very fine powder.

In this way, powd of sugar, of [illegible] oyster shells, of Os Sepiae &e in freq. use.

And sometimes recourse had to powd of alum, of aerug. aeris, & of vitriol.

Of act these applic. I have nevr used any [one], which in my pract. has answ. better, than that here used.

What viz, following Dr Baldinger of Goettingen, have here stilld. P. Opth.

This artic, as here employd, consists of equal parts of very fine powder of Cream of Tart, & fine sugar.

Had first recourse to it on recomm of pract. just ment. Dr Balding.

Formul. howevr here used somewhat diff from his.

For besides Crem of Tart & Sugar cont. also Armen. Bole, & sever other artic.

His origin prescript will find in edit which has pub. of Ednr Pharm.

Of the diff artic however was inclind to think that greatest effect from Cream of Tart.

While some of them as bole from not [being] slowly solub in eye, might be prod of inconven.

As Cream of Tart slowly dissolv, have at least for some time, all the advant of mechan triture.

And probab. not liab. at least to any great inconv from irritat.

Accord. from reduc it to more simple state expect. have not been disapp.

For while have never found it distress to pat, in almost every inst where duly app. has had good effect.

In case before us, from contin for few weeks, affect consid dimin.

And hope that by persist in use, in no long time, comp. cure may be accompl.

Here however would be far from repres. it, as having done, what would not have taken place without use.

Think it prob, that in process of time, offuscat. would have gone off of itself.

Yet certainly a matter of some import. to restore sight soonr than would otherwise been case

And have no hesitat in attrib this effect to it.

By contin may expect still more.

But at same time now in such a state, that will hardly think of persist in use much longer.

Consid of next case delay to future lect. which now prop to deliv on Satur. next at 9 o’Clock in the morn. in the Disp.

And hope it will not be inconv. for you that cont. them at that hour for as long as Dr. M. [meets] on Satur forenoon.

After he gives up Sat. lect. which gen. does after Christ. we shall again return to hour of eleven.