"But in drawing my remarks to a close at this time, I cannot refrain from saying less, in regard to the utility which is likely to arise from this medicine, when properly applied, than that, in such a similar case as I have stated, I would not for a moment hesitate again in giving it and the extract of belladonna a fair trial, so convinced am I now, after employing it pretty freely by itself, in different affections of the same organ (in all of which more or less improvement of vision was manifested), of its potency to remove many of those formidable diseases of the eye, more especially that of the cornea, which are so often the opprobium of our art. However, before I have done, it is but justice to ascribe this noble discovery to Dr. Turnbull, whose indefatigable research has not failed to find out others, no less wonderful in their effects, as they are useful to mankind; and for such he cannot but claim to himself the best thanks of the profession at large." CHAPTER II. ON THE ACTION OF ESSENTIAL OILS, &C. In October, 1835, a paper of mine appeared in the _London Medical and Surgical Journal_, stating the beneficial action of a concentrated tincture of capsicum for diseases of the eye, by rubbing it for a few minutes daily over the forehead and temples with a sponge. Soon after this I was induced to try what effect essential oils, possessing powerful stimulating properties, might possess in removing amaurosis and diseases generally of the eye. The formulæ which I use are-- EMBRO. CARYOPH. CO. ℞--Ol. Caryoph. -- Lavand _āā_ Ʒiv. -- Cinnamom. Ʒss. Sp. Vin. Rect. ℥iij. M. Ft. Embro. EMBRO. PIMENT. CO. ℞--Ol. Piment. -- Rosmar. _āā_ ℥ss. -- Cinnamom. Ʒss. Sp. Vin. R. ℥iij. M. Ft. Embro. Finding great utility to arise from the use of the cloves and pimento, it appeared by no means undesirable or hopeless to administer them internally for the same complaints. In order to shield the pungency of these oils I united them with calcined magnesia, which, by its very strong affinity with these essential oils, forms a body nearly solid, and thereby removes all pungency, warmth, and even smell; for, in this state, it requires to be held in the mouth for a considerable time before it produces any warmth or pungency. They are thus rendered easily taken, in sufficient quantity, without heat or uneasiness. Some children are the subjects of many diseases of the eye, producing blindness from opacities, &c. I ordered the same to be made into a powder, in which form it can be taken easily in any vehicle, without exciting disagreeable warmth. The formulæ are-- PIL. CARYOPH. C. ℞--Ol. Caryoph. Magnes. Cal. _āā_ Ʒi. Ol. Cinnamom. qtt. vi. M. Ft. Pil. xxiv. PIL. PIMENT. CO. ℞--Ol. Piment. Magnes. Cal. _āā_ Ʒi. Ol. Cinnamom. qtt. vi. M. Ft. Pil. xxiv.