A note on chronic chromatopsia and toxic hysteria / by G. E. de Schweinitz.

  • De Schweinitz, G. E. (George Edmund), 1858-1938.
Date:
[1898]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A note on chronic chromatopsia and toxic hysteria / by G. E. de Schweinitz. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by UCL Library Services. The original may be consulted at UCL (University College London)

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    I; A NOTE ON TOXIC CHROMATOPSIA AND TOXIC HYSTERIA.* BY G. E. de SCHWEIN1TZ, A.M., M.D., PHILADELPHIA. Colored vision as a symptom of santonin poisoning is well known; more rarely it develops under the influence of nitrite of amyl, picric acid, chromic acid, digitalis and carbonic acid. According to Simi, it may be associated also with tobacco-alcohol amblyopia. In his case the xantho- pia lasted from twilight to sunrise, and it and the other symptoms were cured by total abstinence from tobacco and alcohol. 1 have never ob- served this symptom in toxic amblyopia until recently, and I desire to present for your consideration an account of the case: Mr. S. T. B., a retired merchant, born in this country, presented himself for treatment on the 30th of August, 1898. History.—The patient is married, has healthy children and grandchildren, and gives no account of specific infection. Two years ago, following an attack of influenza or malaria (it is uncertain which), he developed gastro-intestinal catarrh, attended with a great deal of flatulency and nervous weakness. Dr. Da Costa, his physician at that time, informs me that the urine contained an ex- cess of uric acid, but neither albumin nor sugar; also, there was no ocular dis- turbance, at least none was spoken of. This catarrh still gives him some pain and concern, but he appears cheerful, sleeps well, and has no business worries. There is a history of a fall on his back from a coach, but no present traces of injury. From the time he was eighteen years old he has smoked freely, never less than six or seven cigars a day, but he has never used intoxicating drinks, not even beer. For a number of years he also chewed tobacco, but he has discontinued this habit since 1874. Occasionally at night, by direction of his doctor, he has taken a tablespoonf ul of hot whisky to relieve stomachic pain. This dose, however, has been of rare occurrence. He first observed poor vision in his left eye in 1864, and from his account one would suppose that the visual defect should be classified as a congenital amblyopia. Decided visual disturbance began in the left eye, he maintains, eleven years ago, when it was inflamed, and after this inflammation had passed away his sight was even more defective than formerly. The doctor who at- tended him at that time, but who has kept no notes of his case, writes that the inflammation was an iritis; but there are no remains of this disease to be found in the eye. *Read before the Ophthalmic Section of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, November 5. 1898.