DADD’S VETERINARY MEDICINE AND SURGERY. 
_vused, fed on a light, laxative diet, and pay careful attention to 
the condition of the secretory and excretory functions of the 
Nedy. 
That form of amaurosis occasioned by a deranged condition of 
the digest*ve organs, plethora, or over-distension of the same, will 
cease so soon as the cause is removed, and may be considered as 
x sympathetic affection. 
What that cause is we must endeavor to decide on py careful] 
examinatiun, and then frame our plan of treatment in accordance 
wit the indications to be fulfilled. 
Should we consult authorities on amaurosis, we shall find that 
much diversity of opinion exists. Youatr, who is quoted in 
this country by some persons as high authority, has mistaken the 
disease, or else has strangely distorted facts. He contends thi 
“the treatment of amaurosis is quite as difficult as that of catsr 
ract.” Now, every one knows that cataract occurring among 
horses is notoriously incurable; and PERCIVALL writes, “ A rian 
must be able to perform miracles ere he cures cataract.” 
Now, I contend that amaurosis, or dilatation of the pupil, is nct 
of itself a disease, but the symptom of one; hence, between cats. 
ract—a disease resting trom altered structure of the eye—am 
amaurosis there ex.s18 no analogy. Whenever altered structure 
exists in the mechanism of the eye, then we have an incurable cas, 
Mr. Spooner, the reviser of Youatr’s work on the horse, aie 
sures us that amaurosis is often connected with diseased liver, 
thus controverting Youatr’s theory of incurability ; for animala 
often recover from very severe attacks of liver disease. 
I have called the attention of our readers to the opinions of 
YouatTrt, 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 indcrses t'- 
theory or facts in the case, 
£} 2culative and false theories are only surface deep. ‘Viiey uecu 
nct tae 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 ‘eo 
memory all matters which appear as facts, and forget the rest. 
Amaurosis can be artificially produced by administering a fe 
