12 DADD'S VETERINARY MEDICINE AND SURGERY. 



housed, fed on a light, laxative diet, and pay careful attention to 

 the condition of the secretory and excretory functions of the 

 body. 



That form of amaurosis occasioned by a deranged condition of 

 the digestive organs, plethora, or over-distension of the same, will 

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

 a sympathetic affection. 



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

 examination, and then frame our plan of treatment in accordance 

 with the indications to be fulfilled. 



Should we consult authorities on amaurosis, we shall find that 

 much diversity of opinion exists. Youatt, who is quoted in 

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

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

 " the treatment of amaurosis is quite as difficult as that of catir- 

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

 horses is notoriously incurable ; and Perctvall writes, " A man 

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



Now, I contend that amaurosis, or dilatation of the pupil, is nrt 

 of itself a disease, but the symptom of one; hence, between cata- 

 ract — -a disease resulting from altered structure of the eye — and 

 amaurosis there exists no analogy. Whenever altered structure 

 exists in the mechanism of the eye, then we have an incurable cas t. 



Mr. Spooxer, the reviser of Youatt's work on the horse, as- 

 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 

 Youatt, Percivall, and Spooner merely to show the import- 

 ance of exercising 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 indorses the 

 theory or facts in the case. 



£■[ jculative and false theories are only surface deep. They need 

 n- t t ae eye of the philosopher, nor the mental genius of a Web- 

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

 truth. Those who propose to do their own thinking have the 

 ability to judge between right and wrong. Let us commit ro 

 memory all matters which appear as facts, and forget the rest. 



Amaurosis can be artificially produced by administering a few 



