AMAUROSIS. 131 



Lectures in THE Veterinarian for 1835, he has a perfect recol- 

 lection of a case in which amaurosis occurred six weeks after re- 

 covery from staggers; and though he did not at the time discover 

 their connexion, it was evident enough to him afterwards. 



Various other Causes give rise to sympathetic amaurosis. 

 In children, worms and dentition are influential ones. In horses, 

 there are instances of the uterine functions so affecting the nervous 

 system as to induce amaurosis. 



M. Riss has, in the "Memoirs," published the case of a mare, 

 nine years old, in an advanced state of pregnancy, who became 

 perfectly amaurotic in both eyes. Blisters were applied upon the 

 cheeks, and for several days kept in a state of purulent discharge, 

 and collyria were used. All failing, however, to do good, her 

 owner was advised to suspend all further treatment until after par- 

 turition, the period of which was nigh at hand. Eleven days 

 afterwards she foaled, and on the ninth day after the event M. Riss 

 saw her again, and found her vision restored. Her master told 

 him she recovered her eyesight the day after foaling. 



Another, a similar case, M. Riss narrates. The mare was seven 

 years old, and near her time of foaling. The owner said, she had 

 always enjoyed good sight, but for the last five or six days she 

 had been unable to see her way. M. Riss found her amaurotic. 

 Recollecting the former case, however, in this one M, Riss refused 

 to prescribe, relying upon the event of her accouchement. That 

 occurred at the end of the week, and on the second day afterwards 

 she recovered her vision. 



Amaurosis Venenata, a legitimate species of the disorder, 

 both in man and horse, is that which arises from — or rather is at 

 pleasure producible by — the application of narcotic poison, in par- 

 ticular of belladonna. Certain poisonous substances introduced 

 into the system have likewise, I believe, the same effect. 



The Symptoms occasioned by amaurosis, and consequent 

 blindness in both eyes, are too remarkable to be mistaken. The 

 animal carries his head exalted, in what is called a " star-gazing" 

 position ; and with his nose protruded and ears erect, if, unwillingly, 

 made to walk, takes lofty, measured steps, evidently mistrusting 

 the ground he treads upon, and fearful to advance lest he might 

 encounter any thing. Noise of any kind alarms him : his ears are 



