606 THE DISEASES AND DISOEDERS OF THE OX. 



Who has not felt at times that this is so ? What man or 

 woman has ever seen the picturesque sights of the world and 

 has not felt joy at beholding them? These beauties, too, are 

 not far to seek. Any of us can enjoy them with but little 

 effort. The sky is always above us, and it is full of glorious 

 combinations of colouring. The sea is never far away from us 

 in England, and what a beautiful sight — ever fresh, ever mag- 

 nificent, ever solemn and sublime — does it present ! Happy 

 are those who can derive their joy in living in some measure 

 from the natural' wonders of the world, wonders of sight and 

 of song ; for the earth is full of grand harmonies, if we could but 

 hear them ! Does it not, then, seem a most important avocation 

 — that of the specialist in ophthalmic science ? The man or 

 the woman who has been made to see again — how thankful and 

 grateful ought he or she to be to the benefactor who has indeed 

 acted as a friend in need ! 



There are very many disorders of the eye thoroughly well 

 known, and all or nearly all can be remedied, while many of 

 them can be actually cured. The local use of cocaine has 

 simplified some operations, and the removal of a cataract is in 

 these days much more easily and effectually performed than was 

 formerly possible. In the case of human beings, the eye has 

 received — as it deserved to receive — the most patient and pro- 

 longed investigation, and ophthalmic science may be said to be 

 now well-nigh near perfection, though doubtless there are 

 new discoveries to be made and points yet remaining to be 

 cleared up. 



We cannot suppose that the eyes of the lower animals can 

 ever attract the same degree of attention. Except by way of 

 comparison with the disorders of the human eye, the disorders 

 of the eyes of lower animals can only be looked upon as of 

 secondary importance. Yet we find in actual practice that one 

 meets with more ailments of the eyes of lower animals requiring 

 treatment than we might expect would be the case. The 

 disorders of the eyes of horses, indeed, are of very great 

 importance, and even those of the sheep now merit some little 

 attention at our hands. 



Now, the organs of sight in higher animals are specially 

 protected, being each embedded in fat and enclosed in a specially 

 constructed bony cavity called the orbit, which is most wonder- 



