AMAUROSIS 25 



able for some reason or other. The operation is not 

 always followed by satisfactory results and unless 

 there is an exceptionally good reason for resorting to 

 this measure we recommend slaughter in the severe 

 forms of this disease. 



AMAUROSIS 



This is nearly always a disease of pregnancy when 

 it occurs in cows. In one instance a case occurred in 

 our practice as a sequel to parturient paresis. 



The whole symptom complex of amaurosis is blind- 

 ness. 



There are no lesions in the eye or in its appendages 

 which the examiner can detect ; the organs have a per- 

 fectly normal appearance. 



When the disease occurs during the pregnant state 

 it begins usually during the last weeks of the period. 

 The veterinarian is informed that the cow suddenly 

 went blind. Aside from her inability to see, she is 

 in good health. 



Amaurosis occurring under these conditions is a 

 transient disease, which disappears at parturition or 

 very soon thereafter. 



The case occurring in our practice as a sequel to 

 parturient paresis persisted for some weeks. Ulti- 

 mately a course of potassium iodid terminated the 

 case satisfactorily. 



It is very doubtful whether any treatment should 

 be attempted in cases occurring in the latter weeks 

 of gestation. Knowing that the condition is entirely 

 the result of the pregnancy and that it will correct 

 itself spontaneously with the arrival of the calf, we 

 can usually serve the patient and our client best by 



