Chap. XXIV. Of Films, Webs, &c: %i 



applied outwardly can reach it, but what would at the 

 fame Time deftroy the Eye ; and therefore it is in vain 

 that Farriers ufe corrofive Aledicines to eat off Catarads, 

 as is commonly pradifed among them. Neither would 

 mternal Means, or any Operation avail much towards re- 

 moving It, though that alio has been allay'd by Mounte- 

 banks ; for after a Catarad has been couch'd, as thofe 

 Creatures are unmanagable, it generally grows agam, and 

 the Horfe remains blind. 



Catarads are of different Colours, yel- The Signs of a 

 .ow, black, and white ; yet thofe to which Cataraa, 

 Horfes are chiefly fubjecl:, are either whitifh, or of a Pearl 

 3lue, or mclinable to green, and are eafily known, becaufe 

 m the Begmnmg they are but very fmall, but grow larger, 

 is that Matter which forms them is continually falfino- 

 nto the watery Humour. But there is one Sign whereby 

 ;o know a Catarad, efpecially before it is ripe ; and that is, 

 Dy rubbmg the Outfide of the Eye s for by that Means it 

 rVilla little (hift Place. 



^ There have been other Signs taken Notice of by all Phv- 

 iical Writers, as when there is the Appearance of Flies, 

 iDuft, or Hairs Hoating before the Sight. And Mr. 8nape^ 

 ^n his Third Book o<l The Anatomy of a Horfe, Chap. 12. 

 ^peaking of the watery Humour, has applied thefe Signs to 

 :iorfes which are apt to ftart without Caufe. His Words 

 ire thefe. 

 " It is obferv'd in Men, that if any clotted and colour- 

 ed Bits or Motes fwim in this Hum.our, the Shapes of 

 ^' feverai Infeds, as Gnats, Flies, Spiders, and the like, 

 will feem to be flying before their Eyes, as has been of- 

 '^ ten declared by Men who have had this Afliidion. I • 

 ' am therefore apt to believe, that many Horfes are not 

 ^' without fuch Kind of congealed Bits floating in this Hu- 

 f mour, that without any evident or external Caufe to oc- 

 1' cafion it, are much given to Hart, efpecially with their 

 r Head, the Reprefentation of the forefaid Infers moving 

 [ before the cryftalline Humour, which makes them fear 

 ' fomething or other is Itill flying into their Eye. 



Yea, it is in human Bodies further oblerv'd, that of-> 

 ; tentimes feverai of thefe colour'd Particles in the watery 

 1; Humourdo gather together, and unite foclofe, that they 

 [ grow, as it were, into a Skin or Film, fpreading before 

 •; the Sight of the Eye, which caufes an abfolute BHadnefs 

 •and is that Difeafe which Phyficians call a Catara.^i^ 

 O 2 <' ^hict 



