378 DISORDERS 



gutta fefcna^ cataraByJilmy &cq. but as relief 

 is rarely obtained in thefe cafes, a very mi- 

 nute and extenfive defcription of the com- 

 ponent parts that conftitute the caufe, can 

 add but little, if any, to the general informa- 

 tion. 



The guttafcrcjia is a partial or univerial lofs 

 of fight, where no palpable defedt or fault ap- 

 pears in the eye, except that the pupil is a 

 little more enlarged or contracted. The ap- 

 pearances of this blemifh are various, as well 

 as the caufes and efFeds, fome of its fubjeds 

 being totally blind, and others barely enabled 

 to diftinguifh between light and darknefs. 

 The figns are a blacknefs of the pupil of the 

 eye, its fize being larger or lefs than ufual, ac- 

 cording to the caufe, and its not con trailing 

 or dilating upon a fudden expofure to any de- 

 gree of light. In order to the cure, attend to 

 the caufe as the firft ftep to an adminiftration 

 of medicine, from which, in truth, no great 

 expe(ftation can be formed either internally 

 or externally; more particularly from the 

 former, as the feat of difeafe is fo very remote 

 from the centre of medicinal a(ftion. If the 

 defedl fliould originate in a contraction of or 



com- 



