The Osmotic Pressure of the Aqueous Humour in Epidemic Dropsy Glaucoma.

Introduction IN a previous paper by one of us (Kirwan, 1934) it was pointed out that epidemic dropsy is the only general disease at present known in which glaucoma forms an integral part and hence is the most important clinical lead we have ever had in the pathogenesis of glaucoma. With a view to the elucidation of the aetiology of primary glaucoma in general, this disease provides a vast field for research, for any advance to gain clearer views of an obscure intra-ocular condition is valuable. Investigations into the causation of epidemic dropsy are still being carried out by various workers, but so far without success. Three main theories are at present held: (1) That it is produced by eating rice infected with certain bacteria, (2) That it is an infection which spreads by contact from person to person, (3) That it is due to some deleterious substance which is conveyed through mustard oil. Different research workers have produced in the past experimental and epidemiological evidence in support of each of these theories. More recently the question of mustard oil being the