116 CATARACT. 



the off eye, a cataract was as visible as in the near eye. At the end of six 

 weeks from the thne I first saw her, these cataracts were of the size of a 

 large pin's head. Tlie filly remained in the Doctor's possession until seven 

 years old, the cataracts continuing much the same. I had not an opportu- 

 nity of looking at her eyes from this time until she was got up for sale, at 

 seven years old. I then examined them, and, to my astonishment, found 

 there was not the least appearance of cataract. She was sent to Rudgley 

 fair, and sold to a London dealer, quite sound." 



Case II. — " Mr. S. Durston, of Stanwardine, a most respectable gentle- 

 man farmer, and well known as a fox-hunter in this county, had a black 

 mare of his own breeding with cataracts in both eyes, of which he had not 

 the slightest knowledge until a gentleman who came to buy her detected 

 them. Mr. D. expressed himself much surprised, and said, ' A safer mare 

 across a country could not be, as a hunter.' I myself, and every sportsman 

 in this country, can corroborate Mr. D.'s assertion. This being an extra- 

 ordinary case, Mr. D. wished me to see her. The cataracts were then very 

 visible. She is now in the possession of Mr. Thos. Matthews, of Lee Hall, 

 another gentleman equally well known in our hunt, for whom I, about three 

 months ago, fired her legs. The cataracts were much the same as when I 

 first saw them, which was about seven years ago." 



Case III. — " A mare, the property of my father, which I rode as a hack 

 several years, had cataract without inflammation. After riding her two or 

 three years, on her being led out of the stable one day, I noticed something 

 unusual in one of her eyes, which, on examination, proved to be a cataract, 

 and must have been of very recent formation, as no one rode her except 

 myself This cataract never afterwards varied so long as she remained in 

 my father's possession, which was many years, as hack and brood-mare." 



An anonymous writer, under the signature of C. P. N., commu- 

 nicates in The Veterinarian for the same year, 1834, the fol- 

 lowing interesting case, which would have been more valuable 

 had it been duly authenticated : — ■ 



" A hack mare, about five years old, was brought to me for an accident to 

 the near eye. When I went towards her, she appeared to be very shy, and 

 while at a distance I could plainly perceive a white round speck in the centre 

 of the lens of the other eye ; and after inquiring if there had been any thing 

 the matter with her eyes before, the owner replied in the negative. Shewing 

 the cataract to a few attendants — and it was very perceptible to them all — 

 I averred that it would end in blindness. But, calling in about six weeks at 

 the farm-house whence she came, I was astonished to find that the speck 

 which, according to my prediction, was sure to cause blindness, had been 

 absorbed, and not a vestige of it was to be seen." 



