Children are not unfrequently the victims of purulent ophthalmia—the _ophthalmia neonatorum_. Immediately after birth the conjunctival lining of the eyelids seems unusually red and turgid, and a great degree of swelling soon takes place, so as to render separation of the eyelids very difficult. Occasionally eversion of the lids occurs, when the child cries, from sudden and forcible contraction of the strong external fibres of the orbicular muscle. In general, the lids soon relapse into their former situation; but sometimes the eversion remains, if the internally projecting tumour of the conjunctiva is allowed to become still more swelled from strangulation, caused by the outer margin of the reflected lid. The inflammation spreads over the ball; and, in general, the swelling of the conjunctiva, being greatest at the circumference of the eye, bulges out the eyelids, and turns in their margins. Puriform matter is secreted copiously, and is confined, more especially when, from inattention, the margins of the lids are allowed to become glued together. They often adhere so firmly as to require a very considerable force for their separation, and when opened the matter gushes out as if from the cavity of an abscess. From confinement of the matter the inflammation is still more increased, and the cornea involved. Whitish specks form on it, or it ulcerates, and the ulcers make their way into the anterior chamber of the eye; or portions of it slough, causing partial loss of the organ and openings into the chamber, in consequence of which the aqueous humour is discharged, and the cornea sinks and becomes flaccid. In many instances the cornea becomes opaque, changed in texture, and increased in thickness, so as to form a convex projection from betwixt the eyelids, termed _Staphyloma_; the sclerotic coat also is occasionally affected in a similar manner. A frequent cause of purulent ophthalmia in children is imprudent exposure of the eyes to strong light, the parent or nurse not remembering that the organ must be gradually accustomed to the stimulus. Exposure to cold may also induce the inflammatory action. The application of leucorrhœal or gonorrhœal matter to the eyes of the child, whilst passing through the vagina of the mother, is perhaps the most common cause of the disease. A very unhealthy state of the constitution accompanies the affection: the scalp and other parts of the surface are frequently covered with eruptions. A singular result sometimes follows the purulent ophthalmia of infants. A small opaque spot is observed on the capsule of the lens, which remains through life a central spurious capsular cataract.