DADD'S VETERISABf MEDICINE AND SURGERY. 



..used, fed on a light, laxative diet, aud pay careful attention to 

 the condition of the secretory and excretory functions of the 

 'x.^ly. 



That form of amaurosis occasioned by a deranged condition of 

 the digest' ve organs, plethora, or over-distension of the same, will 

 orase so soon as the cause is removed, and may be considered as 

 H sympathetic affection. 



What that cause is we must endeavor to decide on oy careful 

 examinati'in, and then frame our plan of treatment in accordance 

 mi\i the indications to be fulfilled. 



Should \<e consult authorities on amaurosis, we shall find that 

 much diversity of opinion exists. You ATT, who is quoted in 

 this country by some persons as high authority, has mistaken tbe 

 disease, or else has strangely distorted facts. He contends tliwt 

 "the treatment of amaurosis is quite as difficult as that of cat;/- 

 ract." Now, every one knows that cataract occurring among 

 aorses is notoriously incurable ; and Pehcivall writes, " A man 

 must be able to perform miracles ere he cures cataract." 



Now, I contend that amaurosis, or dilatation of the pupil, is n( t 

 of itself a disease, bat the symptom of one ; hence, between usitf,- 

 ract — a disease rep-"^*ing from altered structure of the eye — aut 

 amaurosis there ex^ocs no analogy. AVhrnever altered structui« 

 exists in the mechanism of the eye, then we have an incurable casi 



Mr. SrooNER, the reviser of Youatt's work on the horse, a:*- 

 sures us that amaurosis is often connected with diseased liver, 

 thus controverting Youatt's theory of incurability; for animals 

 often recover from very severe attacks of liver disease. 



I have called the attention of our readers to the opinions oi 

 You ATT, Percivall, and Spooner merely to show the import- 

 ance of exnrcising our own reasoning faculties. We must not 

 place too much confidence in mere book authority, no matter how 

 high the source, unless experience and intelligence indrrses the 

 theory or facts in the <^ase. 



f 1 ?culative and fals^ theories are only surface deep. They need 

 n''t i.ie eye of the philosopher, nor the mental genius of a Web- 

 Btei, in order to discover their flimsy texture and develop the 

 truth. Those who propose to do their own thinking ha\ e the 

 ability to judge between right and wrong. Let us conimit "o 

 memory all matters which appear as facts, and forg(>t the rest. 



Amaurosis can be artificially produced by administering a lew 



