DISEASES OF THE EYR 41 



hair, eyes, etc. I had a case of this kind, and the owner s state- 

 ment was as follows: The animal (mare) had been in Jiis posses- 

 sion about five years. She had four successive attacks of blindness, 

 wnich had never been treated by a certified surgeon, and it wa? 

 concluded that she must have a periodical attack in spite of all 

 effoi ts to prevent it. Now, this is what we call a case of idio- 

 pathic periodical amaurosis, and if it does not owe its origin to 

 some hereditary idiosyncracy, it is the result of an abnormal con- 

 dition of the brain. 



When our attention shall be called to a case of this character, 

 we must bear in mind the fact that this animal survived four 

 periodical attacks of the same malady, and performed the ordinary 

 duties of a horse, in the intervals of health, with far-seeing eyes, 

 and without the aid of science ; and this goes to show that thia 

 condition of the nervous structure of the eyes of some horses, aa 

 well as many other diseases incidental to them, are often " self- 

 limited," and the subjects will recover, if carefully nursed and 

 left unembarrassed by " poisonous drugs." This opinion is in- 

 dorsed by some of the most distinguished surgeons of the present 

 day. I have no desire to try to saddle the reader with any pecu- 

 iar notions of medication emanating from my own fancy or 

 brains. I am not offering sensible people a mirror of my own 

 reflection, but I wish to present the truth in that mirror, so that 

 they may see it and judge for themselves. Excessive medication 

 is a quicksand which we must try to avoid. Thousands of well- 

 meaning medical aspirants have actually committed professional 

 suicide by clinging to the absurd theory of medication as prac- 

 ticed in bygone days. The lancet, and many of the heroic medi- 

 cines which our predecessors placed great confidence in, and in 

 their writings have urged us to use, are now almost discarded. 

 It is not because an essential change has taken place in the nature 

 of equine maladies, but because we have greater faith in Nature as 

 our curative agent, and have become better acquainted witli mat- 

 omy, pathology, and physiology. 



But to resume the subject of amaurosis. If from the history 

 of the case, we have reason to believe that it is of a periodica] 

 character, and if it be the sequel to, or an accompaniment ofj 

 some hereditary affection, we may be sure that the malady will 

 exist for a certain length of time in spite of all we may do. In 

 <»uch cases, all that is necessary is to have the animal comfr>rtably 



