GUTTA SERENA. 97 



GUTTA SERENA. 



Another species of blindness, and of which mention was made 

 vvhen describing the retina, is Gutta Serena, commonly called 

 glass eye. The pupil is more than usually dilated : iit is im- 

 movable, and bright, and glassy. This is palsy of the optic 

 nerve, or its expansion, the retina ; and is usually produced by 

 determination of blood to the head. It is the kind of blindness 

 which we have described, as sometimes resulting from the pres- 

 sure on the base of the brain, and the consequent injury to the 

 function of the nerve, in staggers. 



The treatment of Gutta Serena is quite as difficult as that of 

 cataract. We have heard of successful cases, but we never saw 

 one ; nor should we be disposed to incur much expense in en- 

 deavoring to accomplish impossibilities. Reasoning from the 

 cause of the disease, we should bleed and physic, and administer 

 the strj^chnine in doses, commencing at half a grain, and not 

 exceeding two grains, morning and night — very carefully watch- 

 ing it. If we succeed, it must be by constitutional treatment. 

 As to local treatment, the seat of the disease is out of our reach. ^ 



prompt and active treatment a great deal of good can be accomplished, 

 and the loss of sight may be greatly postponed. It is useless to attempt 

 half measures ; we should either treat actively or not at all. After the vio- 

 lence of the inflammation has subsided, much benefit may be obtained by 

 putting a few drops of the wine of opium into the eye twice a daj 



Cataract. 



Cataract may be either partial or complete ; and again, it may either 

 succeed the violent disease before spoken of, or it may gradually come on 

 with very little previous inflammation. It admits also of another impor- 

 tant division. It may be either a cataract of the lens itself, or merely of 

 the membrane whicli covers it. The latter may come on without any 

 noticeable inflammation ; appearing as one or two small specks in the cen- 

 tre of the eye, about the size of a pin's head. It is very important to 

 distinguish between these different kinds of cataracts, inasmuch as, whilst 

 the former is irremovable, the latter is very frequently absorbed without 

 any external treatment. Whilst the former is often pearly white, and com- 

 pletely opaque, so far as it exists, the latter is gray and less opaque. Tt 

 requires a considerable amount of tact, as well as experience, to discover 

 these small incipient cataracts, and to discriminate between the one kind 

 and tlie other. 



* Note hy Mr. Spoor) er. — This disease is sometimes connected with 

 diseased liver, particularly a rupture of its coats, when the blindness may 

 shift from one eye to the other. Although this disease is generally but 

 little under the influence of treatment, we have met with successful cases 

 in young animals. The treatment should principally be directed to the 

 removal of the cause which produces the disease. 



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