Cataract

Cataract is a disease caused by blockage. This is extraneous moisture that stops in the opening of the grape skin between the albuminous moisture and the cornea, so that it prevents images from reaching vision. Cataracts vary in both quantity and quality. The difference in quantity is as follows: sometimes there is a lot of water compared to the visual opening, so that it blocks the entire opening and the eye does not see anything. Sometimes the water is small compared to the hole, so it closes only part of it and leaves the other open. That part of visible objects that is located opposite the closed part of the visual aperture is not covered by vision, but only that part of the object that is located opposite the open part. Sometimes vision perceives only half of an object or part of it, and does not perceive the rest, unless by moving the visual aperture. It happens that one time vision covers the entire object, and another time it does not. This depends on the location of the object, because if it falls entirely against the closed part of the visual aperture, then vision does not cover anything, but if the object falls entirely against its open part, then vision covers it completely. Incomplete closure sometimes occurs more towards the upper part, sometimes towards the lower part, and sometimes in the middle of the optic opening, then its edges remain open. In the latter case, a person sees only the edges of objects, but does not see the middle; rather, he even sees in the middle, as if a hole or gap, but this means that he does not see, and darkness appears to him in this place.

As for the qualitative difference between cataracts, it sometimes lies in the degree of its density: one type of cataract is thin and transparent and does not block the access of rays and sunlight, while the other type is very dense. There is also a difference in color: one type is airy in color, and the other is white, like plaster. Other types: pearl white or bluish white, turquoise, gold, some yellow, black and gray. Judging by color, the most treatable cataracts are airy, pearly white, bluish-white and turquoise. As for plaster, green, darkish, completely black and yellow colors, such cataracts cannot be removed.

Of the types of thick cataracts, there is one that sometimes hardens so much that it ceases to be a cataract; it is also incurable. Judging by the degree of density of cataracts, the most treatable ones are thin ones. If you examine such a cataract in partial shade and press on it with your finger, it will quickly dissipate and then come back together. This type of cataract can hopefully be eliminated by removal; however, prolonged repetition of this experience leads to cataract disorder and makes removal difficult. Sometimes the test was carried out in a different way, namely this way: a piece of cotton paper was placed on the eye, then they blew strongly into it, removed it and immediately looked to see if any movement of the cataract was noticeable - if it turned out to be so, then the cataract was removed. The same is done if squinting one eye causes the visual aperture to widen in the other. As for cataracts caused by a fall or as a result of a brain disease, they are difficult to cure.

Signs. Signs that indicate cataracts are the previously mentioned ghosts, unless they are caused by other causes. We have already talked about them in the paragraph about ghosts and that in this case there is a noticeable clouding, in particular, in one eye, and luminous objects appear to him doubled, such as lit lamps. There is the following difference between a cataract and an internal blockage of the optic nerve: if one eye is closed, then as long as there is a cataract, the optic opening of the other eye widens, but it does not widen with the blockage. This is because the cause of expansion arises from the strong pushing of the optic pneuma from the closed eye to the other. If the pneuma encounters a blockage from behind, it cannot pass, and this in most cases widens the optic opening of the other eye, except in the case where the cataract is too thick and there is no blockage. When both optic holes are widened, none of this happens.

Treatment. I myself saw among smart and educated people one person who had a cataract, and he cured himself by bowel movements, abstinence and reducing the amount of food, giving up soups and everything moisturizing, being content only with fried and stewed foods and using dissolving and diluting eye remedies. His vision was restored. Truly, if you start treating cataracts at the beginning, then the regimen helps. And for firmly established cataracts there is no other method of treatment other than removing it. Therefore, one who has cataracts should abstain from fullness of the stomach, from wine, from frequent copulation and should limit himself to eating once a day, before noon, he should especially avoid fish, fruits and rough meat. Vomiting, although it is beneficial by clearing the stomach, is harmful in the case of cataracts.

We have already outlined the rule of medicinal treatment in the paragraph on ghosts. Now we will indicate some more proven remedies. Take ten parts of peeled drupes of noble laurel, one part of gum, grind them - for cataracts - with the urine of a boy who has not yet reached maturity, and for weakness of vision - with clean water, and use them. This one from Amida says: Let it be mixed with viper bile and honey and applied to the eye, it is good. I say that knowledgeable people have tested the bile of a viper and it did not have the effect of poison at all; this experience is one of which one should not be too afraid. Another proven and useful remedy is this: squeezed juice from grains from the island of Fanakidis, common Dubrovnik and corals - all one miskal - mixed with fennel juice.

As for removing cataracts, it must be preceded by cleansing the body, and especially the head; you should also bleed if necessary. Then you need to pay attention so that the person who is having his cataract removed does not have a headache, otherwise you may be afraid of the formation of a tumor in the membranes of the brain, so that he does not suffer from a cough, is not a person too irritable and quickly falls into rage, for irritation and rage are related to circumstances , promoting the return of cataracts. The patient must abstain from wine, intercourse and baths before removing cataracts. You should also not begin removal until the water becomes motionless, what wants to descend has not descended, and its substance has thickened a little - this is called the completion of ripening - so that the cataract remains in that place in the lower part of the eye , where she is taken by the mikdaha. For this reason, the withdrawal is even postponed.

If you decide to remove cataracts, then feed the patient fresh fish and moisturizing foods that make cataracts worse, that is, first eat things that increase the evil of cataracts, and then remove them. But in general, when cataracts are very thin or very thick, they cannot be removed. When they decide to remove a cataract, the patient is ordered to look at the inner corner of the eye, towards the nose, and maintain this direction of gaze. The patient should not be against a window or in a brightly lit place. Then they begin to remove it: they make a puncture with the mikdaha, pass it between both membranes so that the mikdaha is opposite the optic hole; here she finds a kind of free space or cave.

There are masters of the craft who pull out the mikdaha and insert the tail of the mihatta, that is, the iklid, until it reaches the optic hole, in order to prepare a more spacious place for the tip of the mihatta and teach the patient to be patient. Then the michatt is introduced to a certain border, slightly above the cataract, and they do not stop moving it downwards until the eye is cleared and the cataract disappears under the cornea. After this, the mihatt is left in place for a sufficient time so that the cataract remains where it was taken. Then the mihatt is removed and it is seen whether the cataract returns to its original place. If it appears again, then you should repeat the action with your hand until you are sure that the cataract will not return. If the cataract does not move in the direction where they want to lower it and direct it, but moves in the other direction, then it should be taken to where it deviates and confined there. If you notice that the cataract has returned during the days when the subsequent eye treatment is taking place, then again insert the mihatta into the same entrance hole, because it remains and does not heal. If blood is poured into this hole, then it must also be removed, and not remain there and coagulate, because then healing is impossible.

As soon as you have removed it, place an egg yolk with violet oil on the sore eye on a piece of cotton paper. The healthy eye should also be bandaged so that it is motionless and the damaged eye does not follow it. Let the patient lie on his back in the dark for three days. Sometimes it is necessary to frequently renew the medicated bandage, keep the eyes still and lie on your back for a week. This is required when swelling or headache or anything else appears. If there is a tumor, loosen the tight bandage a little and loosen it. In general, it is best for the patient to remain in the supine position until the pain subsides. Every three days the bandage is untied and the medicine is renewed. It is also necessary, while the bandage is untied, to make lotions with rose, willow or pumpkin water, or infusion of a shepherd's staff and the like. Some people have other options for cataract relief; Some make an incision in the lower part of the cornea and remove the cataract through it, but there is a danger that along with the cataract, if it is very thick, proteinaceous moisture may also come out.