180 THE MODERN HORSE DOCTOR. 



nerve, or from tumor within the ventricles of the cerebral mass. 

 But the most common form of amaurosis in the horse is that de- 

 nominated sympathetic. We have seen horses that have sud- 

 denly become amaurotic from overfeeding, the subjects at the 

 same time leading a lazy life in an air-tight stable, by which 

 errors the digestive, as well as other functions, become impaired, 

 and reveal their pathological condition by external sign — amau- 

 rosis. "We remember the case of a young colt which died of 

 chronic indigestion — debility. For several weeks previous to 

 leath, the animal was amaurotic in both eyes : he would stand 

 with his nose protruded, ears erect, and head raised to an unnatu- 

 ral position, and the owner informed us that if he attempted to 

 move the patient, he would raise his limbs after the fashion of a 

 dancing master. Such, together with the dilated pupils, are the 

 symptoms to be considered in diagnosing this malady. 



Sympathetic amaurosis, therefore, may admit of cure ; and that 

 cure consists in the restoration of whatever function may be de- 

 ranged ; the mere application of local remedies to the eye alone 

 will be of no sort of use ; we must go beyond — seek for first 

 causes, and apply suitable remedies in the region of the actual 

 disease ; for, in nine cases out of ten, amaurosis is but a symp- 

 tom indicating disease of an alarming nature, located, perhaps, 

 in the digestive canal. 



The causes assigned for amaurosis in the human subject are, 

 compression of the optic nerves ; from debility ; from spasm ; 

 and from poisons ; and probably the same causes may produce 

 similar results in the horse. 



The treatment of amaurosis must depend on the nature of the 



case; if the subject be in a state of plethora — fat and sleek — 



administer the following cathartic drench : — 



Powdered aloes, 4 drachms, 



" gentian, 2 drachms, 



Common salt, 1 ounce, 



Warm water, 1 pint. 



Keep the animal on a light diet of scalded shorts ; sponge the 

 head with cold water ; give an occasional injection of salt and 

 water ; and let the patient have regular exercise. 



If the patient be in a state of ancemia — debility — we must 

 have recourse to tonics and alteratives, with a view of invigor- 



