The Eye in its Relation to Health
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By Chalmer Prentice, M.D.
Chicago, A.C. McClurg & Company, 1895
Transcription (c) A. Wik, 2004

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        | Chapter IV |  pages 40-57
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WE give specific names to disturbances in
the various parts or organs of the body,
but still they are nothing more than erratic func-
tions, which may be localized in the liver, kid-
neys, heart, digestive apparatus, lungs or any
other part or parts of the animal economy.
  Health is that condition in which all the func-
tions throughout are normal in their action.
Any departure of a function or functions toward
an unnatural or abnormal condition is disease.
Disease is the negative of ease and means some-
thing uncomfortable or uneasy; but any change
of function toward an abnormal condition should
be classified as a disease, whether it manifests
itself by discomfort or otherwise.
  HEALTH IS NORMAL OR HYGIENIC PHYSIOLOG-
ICAL FUNCTION.
  DISEASE IS LOCALIZED ABNORMAL INNERVATION
AND ALWAYS CENTRAL IN THE NERVOUS SYSTEM,
BEING A LACK OR EXCESS OF MOTIVE-FORCE.
  Disease may take its origin from a suffi-
cient irritation of any of the nerve-centers,
but much oftener will disease find its origin
through the most highly acute and sensitive
centers.

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  What is termed organic disease really consists
of some lesion of the parts which is the result of
continued imperfect or erratic function, and in
the true sense lesion is not disease but the result
of disease.
  The growth of tumors is due to abnormal in-
nervation.  In a benign tumor there is an excess
of assimilative nerve-impulse which causes the
part to gather unto itself more than its propor-
tionate quantity.  In a malignant tumor the
same condition exists, with the addition that the
assimilation consists of gathering to itself hete-
rogeneous elements forming a structure which is
alien to the part.
  In the study of disease, we have exhausted
our fullest resources in searching for causes.  We
find various lesions, such as deposit, disintegra-
tion, hypertrophy, atrophy and heterogenetic
conditions, and often have settled upon some of
these lesions as being the cause of other accom-
panying pathological symptoms.  This is not
true, they are nothing more than accompanying
conditions or results of disease.  A LESION IS
ALWAYS A RESULT AND NOT A CAUSE.  It may be
the source of a still further reflex disturbance,
but back of all of these conditions is abnormal
innervation; and from whatever source it takes
its origin, it is the first great disturbing cause, in
all deranged functions.

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  The electric current or impulse passes through
the cable, under the ocean, conveying intelligence
from one continent to another.  It moves pon-
derous machinery of various kinds, it traverses
the trolley and moves the heavy car loaded with
passengers.  Although unseen, we have learned
to look upon it as a mighty force, as something
that exists, from the fact of the powerful functions
that result from its application.  In like manner
we must learn to look upon motive-force or
motive-current in the animal body as the first and
most important thing in its very existence, for all
things that are done are accomplished through its
agency and nothing is accomplished without it.
  The intent of this work is to treat of nerve-im-
pulse, its equilibrium or balance in health, and its
lack of balance or irregularity in disease.  In
speaking of eye-strain, I always mean lack of bal-
ance in the nerve-impulses of the eyes, and this
often exists to a high degree when the muscle
balance is apparently perfect.
  The defects in the eye muscles may be entirely
latent to diffusion tests.  I known it is customary
when finding small amounts of manifest irregular-
ities in some of the eye muscles to suspect the
existence of a still further defect in the same
direction, a small portion of which may slowly
manifest itself during a long course of treatment;
but further than this latent defects have not been

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suspected or looked for.  The most obstinate cases
of localized and general nervous debility are more
frequently the result of conditions which are abso-
lutely latent, with no manifest deviation to lead
us to suspect their presence.  The only thing that
leads us to believe that latent eye-strain exists is
the nervous derangement of the patient.
  Diseases of the eye, like those of the body, are
localized abnormal innervation.  By examining a
few individual cases, we can draw general conclu-
sions which will enable us to individualize any
disease of the eye under the theory of erratic
function caused by abnormal innervation.  Abnor-
mal innervation of the ocular apparatus causes
disturbances of the nerve-centers and they are
reflexed to the eye, disturbing its nutrition or the
impulses that perform its various delicate func-
tions.  In cataract, from some disturbing cause,
there is a gradual cessation of those vital forces
that keep up the nutrition, assimilation and life of
the crystalline lens, and it ultimately dies,
becomes a foreign, opaque body.  In that dreaded
and generally incurable disease of the eye, glau-
coma, one of the most popular treatments is
iridectomy, also division of the ciliary muscle,
called cyclotomy.  Occasionally these operations
have been known to arrest the disease, which, in
my opinion, they do only when the glaucoma has
been dependent on latent hyperopia or strain in

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the ciliary muscle.  The iridectomy as well as the
division of the ciliary muscle would have a ten-
dency to suspend the tonic spasm or contraction
of latent hyperopia, and thus in a measure restore
equilibrium in the distribution of nerve-force
to various parts of the eye; but, where these
operations fail to produce any effect whatever,
my opinion is that there may be an excessive
strain in some one of the long muscles that is giv-
ing rise to the disturbance; and if this is carefully
sought out and operative measures resorted to,
the improvement will be as certain as in those
cases that are relieved by operations affecting the
ciliary muscle.
  Various forms of inflammation of the eyes are
due to disturbances in the nerve-impulses, and a
correction of latent eye-strain, in whatever direc-
tion it may be found, often acts like magic in
relieving these troubles after they have resisted
other treatment.  If the examination is careful
and the operation thorough, rarely will the oculist
be disappointed in obtaining good results.  Any
disease of the eye, other than zymotic or trau-
matic, and a continuance of even these may depend
on eye-strain.
  The microbe theory as to the origin of disease
is in no way affected by assuming that general
nervous derangement, in some cases more or less
localized, is the underlying or predisposing cause

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of disease in general.  If all the organs and parts
of the animal economy are receiving a generous
and adequate supply of motive-force from the
nerve-centers, the functions are necessarily per-
formed with vigor, and the presence of microbes
of any character does not prove sufficient to dis-
turb these vigorous function.  They are continued
undisturbed by the presence of the microbe,
apparently much the same as an engine furnished
with a full and vigorous supply of steam would
not be perceptibly or materially affected in its
movements though a hand were to be placed upon
the fly wheel.  It is when the various organs and
parts of the body are furnished with a minimum
motive-force from disturbed nerve-centers, just
barely enough force to keep up the function, that
the presence of the microbes is sufficient to inter-
fere with the performance of its work.  In this
case the microbes give rise to the disturbance of
certain functions, or to their characteristic disease.
The engine in this case is supplied with so little
steam that the placing of a hand upon the fly
wheel proves sufficient to disturb its normal action.
Thus, in a very plain and simple way, are we
enabled to account for the immunity of some per-
sons from disease though they have been exposed
to infection.  Many theories have been adduced
to explain this, but it is undoubtedly correctly
explained by this theory.

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  If twenty people were to migrate into a
malarious district, some of them would in time
succumb to the poisonous influences of the
malaria, which would induce fever and ague,
bilious, dengue, or some other form of fever
according to the nature of the microbe.  Some
ten would be constant victims of the malaria,
while ten of the same company, who breathed the
same air and drank the same water, would enjoy
perfect health.  All take in the poisonous
influences in equal proportions; but those of a
neurasthenic predisposition will yield to the
baneful influence, while those whose functions
are perfect and vigorous will be able to live for
years without showing that they are in any way
materially influenced.  It is not, as I have often
heard it expressed, that those who do not suffer
throw off the microbe; they take it into their
systems in the same proportions as those who
yield to disease, but their functions are so per-
fectly and strongly performed, that the presence
of the microbe fails to disturb their action.
  Viewing all disease as localized nervous
derangement, it will not be necessary to enumer-
ate the whole category of ills, but a few promi-
nent ones will suffice, and the same general
reasoning can then be applied to all the rest, for
disease is not a thing, an entity.  We have
various erratic, abnormal actions in certain func-

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tions of the body, and we give them names.  For
instance; if a patient has excessive thirst, and the
kidneys are secreting a great amount of water,
the liver has taken upon itself through erratic
action to manufacture larger amounts of sugar
than are to be met with in a state of health; we
name these functional derangements diabetes
mellitus.  A large train of other symptoms which
vary greatly in different cases will be noted in
various forms of this disease, from the fact that
the irritation in the central nervous system is so
varied in its character that it sends out corre-
sponding impulses which perform erratic work in
various parts of the body.  Whatever the nature
of the erratic function that falls to the liver,
spleen, or kidneys, it is entirely due to the
character of its nerve-impulses.  In diabetes,
it is safe to say there is not a function in
the whole animal economy that may not
be coincidently more or less deranged or erratic;
but whatever the nature and train of symp-
toms, the name of diabetes mellitus will
prevail, provided an excessive quantity of urine
containing sugar is secreted, accompanied with
the usual diabetic thirst.  To enumerate and par-
ticularize, in all the cases of functional disturbances
that might present themselves, would require the
space of volumes.  The names of diseases are
useful, inasmuch as they suggest to the prac-

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titioner of medicine, a certain combination of
disturbed functions.  When an irritation in the
nerve-centers arises from injury, it is called trau-
matic.  When it arises from other causes than
injury, it is called idiopathic.  It makes no dif-
ference whether the nerve-centers receive their
disturbing cause through the one source or the
other, they are still irritated or disturbed nerve-
centers; and in either event the position we have
taken is in no way altered, that disease is always
localized abnormal innervation.
  Various forms of catarrh are localized nervous
derangements.  The inflammation of the mucous
membrane of the nose, ear, throat or other parts that
are affected, is a result of a pre-existing condition,
namely an unnatural or excessive sensibility of
this membrane; which simply means that the
nerve-centers are supplying this membrane with
nerve or motive-force of such a character that it
takes offense at very slight changes in the tem-
perature of the atmosphere.  Again, the pollen
and perfume of flowers sometimes give rise to hay
fever, asthma and various forms of catarrh.  All
this is because the nerve-impulse that is supplying
the part is so excessively abnormal in the way of
sensibility, that things otherwise inoffensive pro-
duce serious results.  It is not the nerves that are
affected; they are simply conveyors of sensitive
nerve-force.  They themselves are passive and

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without feeling.  It is the impulse that passes
through the nerves that characterizes the peculiar
irritability or hypersensitiveness of the membrane,
and this gives rise to the inflammatory action that
follows.
  Alcoholism is a form of abnormal innervation
which manifests itself in an irritable craving for
alcoholic stimulus.  It is not necessary to dilate
on the different forms of drunkenness further than
to mention the habitual and the periodic drinker.
The habitual drinker has a steady or fixed irrita-
bility in the nerve-centers that gives rise to a
constant desire for stimulus.  A periodic drinker
is one in whom there is a gradual and steady in-
crease of irritability in the nerve-centers until a
climax is reached.  When this period arrives all
judgment is set aside; and with the knowledge of
previous errors staring him full in the face, even
the death of a parent, wife or child, he insanely
drains the cup to the bitter dregs again and again.
The dipsomaniac is certainly insane.  I have seen
him kneel in prayer and beg for help against his
infirmities, and truly his prayer was earnest and
his heart sincere; yet ere he arose from his knees,
he drew from his pocket a flask of whiskey and
drank deeply of it.  If there are superlative de-
grees of heartache and yearning, they are in the
breasts of drinking men, in their burning desire
to be free from the thraldom of drink.

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  As to this form of derangement finding its
origin through the visual centers, I desire to call
attention to one prominent fact.  Among various
treatments for dipsomania or drunkenness, are
those that involve the use of remedies usually
applied by hypodermic injection which causes a
dilation of the pupils of the eyes.  This dilated
condition is usually continued for about the
space of one month.  Whatever the remedy is, it
acts as a mydriatic.  It acts by relaxing spasm
in the ciliary muscle.  It also dims the vision
more or less, so that the stimulus to fix both eyes
in a parallel plane with each other is lessened;
and if there be a short upper, under, inner, or
outer muscle, there is but little stimulus to exert
its strain; also the vision is fogged, and all this
relaxation lessens the labor of the visual centers.
My opinion is that so-called cures for dipsomania
perform whatever good they effect by temporarily
relieving eye-strain.  This is also verified by the
fact that the same nervous conditions are equally
benefited by dropping a mydriatic such as hyoscy-
amine, hyoscine or atropine into the eye, thus
dilating the pupil and relaxing ciliary strain, and
at the same time lessening the acuity of vision, so
that the stimulus for parallelism is also lessened.
During the time the eyes are kept in this dim,
relaxed condition, there is a cessation from eye-

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strain and the brain irritation dependent on it,
and the craving for drink ceases; but after the
remedy has ceased to be administered, and the
effect has passed from the system, there will
usually be a return of the same old strains, induc-
ing a return of the irritation of the nerve-centers,
bringing back the old appetite, or at least a condi-
tion in which the appetite is readily awakened by
sight, taste or smell.  There are natures of suffi-
cient strength to continue an abstemious life after
the aid of treatment has once been given them;
but again there are men who, when the irritation
returns, are helpless; their passionate impulses
are uncontrollable.  Those who are able to resist
drink after the brain irritation returns, are often
visited by some other form of affliction in its
stead, such as disease of the heart, liver, kidneys,
sexual organs or lungs.  Conversely, we are often
able to arrest and delay the progress of consump-
tion by the use of liquor, establishing a form of
alcoholism that utilizes those abnormal impulses
which were performing the function of building up
tubercular tissue; their office is really perverted
and the disease thus arrested.
  A man may love the taste or the smell of
liquor, but without any effort on his part, can use
it sparingly.  He has really no appetite for it,
although the taste and smell are pleasant to him.

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Again, a victim who has a vicious appetite may
hate the taste, smell and sight, yet for his life, he
cannot be prevented from drinking it.
  The supposition of the masses in their obser-
vation of drinking men, is that such unfortunates
resort to the use of alcoholic stimulus for the
dissipation, for the pleasure they find in it; but
this view is absolutely incorrect.  These men
drink for the purpose of diverting the horrors
of constantly increasing nervous irritability,
which ultimately becomes absolutely unbearable
and incompatible with sanity.
  Alcohol acts on the nerve-centers by first
exalting their action, and then for a time sustain-
ing such an extravagant call upon them that,
sooner or later, they become absolutely ex-
hausted and are unable to furnish any more vital
force than is just necessary to carry on the un-
conscious functions of life.  Physical strength
passes away, the reasoning powers take flight,
and unconsciousness ensues, for lack of vital
force to carry on these functions.  During this
period of prostration, all abnormal innervations
that were a source of irritation to the brain are
suspended.  When the nerve-centers begin to
recuperate and build up, there is a gradual re-
establishment of those abnormal innervation or
strains, until they are again so excessive as to be
unbearable and a debauch is resorted to once

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more as a relief.  Now by determining just
where these abnormal innervations are, and just
what is the cause of them, we may correct these
strains and abnormal innervations, and thus
relieve the patient without any risk of a return of
the uncontrollable appetite and without the risk
of some other disease in its stead.
  An inflammation in any part of the body is
the result of an irritant nerve-supply to the
affected part, whereby the sensibility of the part
is emphasized to a higher or abnormal degree.
The nerves of the smaller blood vessels (vaso-
motor-nerves) carry the impulses that cause the
derangement; congestion follows and inflamma-
tion ensues.
  Frequently one inflammation is relieved by
producing another, a method that we call coun-
ter-irritation; e.g., by a mustard plaster or a vesi-
cant.  This establishes its inflammatory or irri-
tant action by sending to the nerve-centers
impulses that stimulate them to return that
impulse that gives rise to the inflammation that
we wish to establish.  Although the result is
local, the action of the irritant is not.  Often
has the practitioner applied a counter-irritant
when it failed to produce the desired irritation,
from the fact that the nerve-centers were in such
a low and enfeebled state that they were unable
to respond.  In mumps, there is an inflammation

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of the parotid gland and sometimes a curious
thing occurs; the inflammation in the parotid
suddenly ceases and at once makes its appear-
ance in the testicle or ovary.  This sudden
change of the seat of inflammation from one
part of the body to the other, not affecting any
of the intervening spaces, has been called metas-
tasis, and at first may look like a strange and
unaccountable phenomenon; but it is not diffi-
cult to understand when we consider that it is
that portion of the nerve-centers that presides
over the parotid that is disturbed and sending
irritant nerve-force to the gland, causing the in-
flammation, and that there occurs a switching or
change of this irritation from this nerve-center to
the one supplying the testicle or ovary which is
probably conveniently located for the purpose of
change.  The instant the irritation changes from
one nerve-center to the other, the inflammatory
action changes its location.
  Ovaritis, or inflammation of the ovaries, from
whatever source it may have taken its origin, is
always due to a disturbance of the nerve-centers
that preside over the ovarian functions.
  Parturition of child-birth as well as the
monthly organic functions of the ovaries, can
only be exciting and not primary causes of ova-
ritis; for if their presiding nerve-centers are vig-
orous and generous in their supply of nerve-

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impulse, these organs always recover from dis-
turbances excited by the above causes.  But
when they do not recover their normal condi-
tions, the failure results from a lack of equilibri-
um in the nerve-impulses, and ovaritis is the
result.  A long continuance of the disturbed
conditions that interfere with the organic and
assimilative functions of these parts, may ulti-
mately give rise to lesions, the growth of cysts
and tumors of various characters, also displace-
ments due to a weakened condition of support-
ing appendages.  The pain and suffering in these
parts is central; all feeling is in the nerve-centers,
and only apparently located in the parts of the
body where we seem to note it.  Oftentimes
feeling continues to exist apparently in an absent
part which has been removed even for many
years; for instance a leg.  But recently I asked a
patient whose leg I amputated twenty-five years
ago if his old gout ever troubled him in that part
now.  His answer was, "Yes, very badly; but I
cannot get my foot in hot water as I used to,
consequently I have to suffer the pain.  Some-
times my toes get crossed, and, not being able to
touch them, I am unable to relieve the disagreea-
ble feeling."  The nerve-centers that once pre-
sided over the foot were in a disturbed condition
and caused the unpleasant feelings complained
of.  Every surgeon is familiar with such com-

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plaints, and they teach us conclusively that the
feeling of all parts is in the central nervous
system.
  All medicines or remedies are administered
with the expectation or hope that they will cor-
rect whatever disturbed functions the disease may
consist of.  The end sought is to re‰stablish nor-
mal action in the nerve-centers and thus restore
perfect function.  Whether the nerve-center is
influenced by impulse from without, or by remedy
taken into the circulation and carried directly to
the part, the action is the same.  Just what
change takes place in the nerve-center is some-
what a matter of speculation.  We think we have
strong reasons for believing it to consist of
changes in polarity.
  The Homeopathic principle of administering
remedies for disease is SIMILIA SIMILIBUS CURAN-
TUR, (or like cures like) and is based on the fact
that a certain remedy administered in health
causes changes in the function of some particular
organ or part.  Now, when this part becomes
diseased, the conclusion is that the remedy hav-
ing a predilection to act on these parts will tend
to restore them to normal action.  Whatever
changes are wrought originate in the nerve-
centers.  How can it be possible to disturb a
healthy function without first disturbing the pre-
siding center?  Even in the case of injury to a

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part, inflammatory action does not ensue until
the nerve-centers have received the irritant impulse
from the shock or injury; and then they return their
characteristic impulses to the injured part, estab-
lishing the inflammatory action which, under
favorable circumstances, tends to repair the
injury.





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        | End of Chapter IV |  pages 40-57
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