OPTIC NEURITIS CAUSED BY A COAL TAR HAIR DYE

The presenting symptom of visual disturbances in a patient in whom the sole objective finding is bilateral optic neuritis places before the physician a difficult problem in differential diagnosis. To attribute such a condition to toxic and general systemic causes 1 and overlook the possibility of an expanding intracranial lesion as the etiologic factor may mean to sacrifice precious time during which surgical intervention may save vision or life itself. To overlook a possible toxic cause may lead to unnecessary operative procedures. REPORT OF A CASE History. —L. W., a married white woman aged 37, entered the hospital on May 7, 1940, complaining of blurred vision of four weeks' duration. She had been in excellent health until four weeks before admission, when after a long automobile ride in misty weather she returned home greatly fatigued and suffering from frontal headache. She also noted a feeling of "heat" and pain in