206 ^r 



In rain >vouId be the use of Bleeding', Purging^, Eye- Waters, Blis- 

 tei*s. Cupping or Setons ; for the disease would unquestionably make 

 head and total blindness would commonly ensue. Just so it is with 

 Horses that are treated for inflamed eyes in hot stables ; for the con- 

 stant application of the Volatile Alkali which abounds in the atmos- 

 phere, to the diseased organ, will be perpetually undoing- all that 

 medicine can be expected to accomplish, even in the hands of the 

 most skilful. 



But, in order to remove all possibility of doubt upon this subject, 

 I have frequently made the following experiments. 



When a Horse has been attacked with that particular affection of 

 the outer coat of the eye, called Moon -Blindness, 1 have ordered 

 liini to be removed from the stable (where I have observed he kept 

 both eyes constantly shut) into the open air, or to a very cool 

 situation, and have watched the effects of the change. In the course 

 of half an hour I have commonly found him begin to open his eyes 

 o^raduallv, and in the space of two or three hours, to keep them 

 open boldlv, and for a continuance, even ihongh the situation he 

 was placed in was not darkened or sliady. For, it cannot be denied 

 that strong light is very prejudicial in such cases. 



Now, in order to prove that the stimulus of the Volatile Alkali was 

 more offensive to the inflamed organ than that of light, I have placed 

 the animal again in a hot stable which did not admit much light, and 

 in the course of a few minutes, have observed him begin to close 

 the eyelids gradually, and after an hour or two, to keep them con- 

 stantly shut. Not satisfied, however, with these experiments, which 

 seemed pretty conclusive on the point ; I have removed the Horse 



