204 Treatise on the Diseases of the Eye. 



There are several points in this Table which deserve notice. In 

 the first place it will be seen, that the number of patients of the male 

 sex is upwards of four times that of females ; a circumstance to be 

 attributed to their different occupations, and the greater exposure of 

 the former to the rays of the sun. The number of applicants with 

 impaired vision, was greatest between the ages of 20 and 30 ; probably 

 from the privations to which they were subject, and which at that 

 period often affect them more than when the body is debilitated by 

 age, I have seen a whole boat's crew attacked with impaired vision 

 in consequence of their working much and eating little, and being 

 much exposed to the glare of the sun. This effect of privations 

 gradually increases to old age. The greatest number of female patients 

 afflicted with the same malady were between the ages of 30 and 40, 

 while the paucity of applicants of that, and of every age compared 

 with the males, indicates clearly enough the common cause of the 

 malady ; namely, exposure to the sun, which the men in general, 

 from their out-door pursuits, undergo, to a much greater extent than 

 the women, whose avocations lie principally within doors. In both 

 males and females the maximum number of cases of complete amauro- 

 sis occurred between the ages of 30 and 50, after which the number 

 of applicants declined. This appears to be owing to the greater rate 

 of mortality amongst persons of advanced age, for a tendency to 

 amaurosis undoubtedly increases with years ; or it may be accounted 

 for by supposing that persons near the middle age feel the importance 

 of resorting to the means of repairing decayed vision, while their 

 families are dependent on their individual exertions for support ; 

 whereas those whose great age incapacitates them for labour, depend 

 for the most part on others for the necessaries of life. 



The frequent occurrence of cases of impaired vision does not seem 

 to be caused by a determination of blood alone ; for the patient does 

 not in general complain of seeing flashes of light, or muscse volitanties, 

 and other symptoms of local determination. The disease in general 

 appears to be more allied to paralysis ; and seems to be the effect 

 of the glare to which the natives are so much exposed in the hot 

 and dry atmosphere of most parts of India. The effect, partial at 

 first, and discovering itself by weakness of sight, gradually becomes 

 more marked and intense, and finally terminates in amaurosis or 

 glaucoma. These most distressing effects are doubtless accelerated 



