April 16 2010 was the 350th anniversary of the birth of Sir Hans Sloane, whose collection of more than 71,000 objects became the foundation of the British Museum. Sloane was a physician, and in these  excerpts from An account of a most efficacious medicine for soreness, weakness, and several other distempers of the eyes (1745), he gives the recipe and method for his treatment of eye disorders.

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Take of prepared Tutty, one Ounce; of Lapis Hæmatites prepared, two scruples; of the best Aloes prepared, twelve Grains; of prepared Pearl, four Grains. Put them into a Porphyry, or Marble Mortar, and rub them with a Pestle of the same Stone very carefully, with a sufficient Quantity of Viper’s Grease, or Fat, to make a Liniment; to be used daily, Morning or Evening, or both, according to the Conveniency of the Patient: as hereafter directed.

This Medicine I soon tried, and, though a Composition, found it so surprizingly beneficial, that by the right Use of it not one in five Hundred missed of a Cure: unless their Disorder proceeded from a Venereal Taint.

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The Method, which has best succeeded with me in facilitating the efficacious Use of this Liniment, is to bleed, and blister in the Neck and behind the Ears, in order to draw off the Humors from the Eyes; and afterwards, according to the Degree of the Inflammation, or Acrimony of the Juices, to make a Drain by Issues between the Shoulders, or a perpetual Blister. And for washing the Eyes, I generally recommend Spring Water: which I think preferable to any spirituous Lotion, whether simple or compound. And the best inward Medicines I have experienced to be Conserve of Rosemary Flowers; Antiepileptic Powders, such as Pulvis and Guttetam; Betony, Sage, Rosemary, Eyebright, wild Valerian Root, Castor, &c., washed down with a Tea made of some of the same Ingredients: as also Drops of Spirit. Lavendulæ composit. and Sal volat. oleos

If the inflammation returns, drawing about six Ounces of Blood from the Temples by Leaches, or Cupping on the Shoulders, is very proper.

The Liniment is to be applied with a small Hair Pencil, the Eye winking or a little opened.

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Source:

Sloane, Hans, Sir. An account of a most efficacious medicine for soreness, weakness, and several other distempers of the eyes. By Sir Hans Sloane, Bart. physician to His Majesty, &c. London,  MDCCXLV. [1745]. Eighteenth Century Collections Online. Gale. The Wellcome Trust. 16 Apr. 2010