202 GEOEGE JOHN EOMANES 1892 



I am very glad to hear of your improvement in 

 general health, and also of James' continued vigour. 

 As regards myself I have no very satisfactory ac- 

 count to give. The headaches indeed are not worse 

 — if anything they are better; but the gout is at 

 work on other parts of this vile body, and the latest 

 assault is a very serious one for a man of my pursuits. 

 About ten days ago I found myself partially blind in 

 the right eye — the upper half of the field of vision 

 being totally obliterated. I have seen an Oxford 

 and also a London oculist, who have both examined 

 the eye and pronounce the sudden seizure to be one of 

 serous effusion upon the retina. It seems probable 

 that the impairment of vision will be permanent, and 

 so prevent all operative work where any delicacy is 

 required. The blindness is so complete, that if I 

 look about an inch below the electric light placed at a 

 distance of a very few yards, I am not able to per- 

 ceive any luminosity. Meanwhile, I have to wear 

 the darkest of possible goggles, and generally to live 

 the life of a blind man. Per contra, this may prove 

 a blessing in disguise, as it compels me to abstain 

 from work for some considerable time to come, and 

 I had been advised to this course on account of the 

 headaches. How I am to spend the six months' 

 rest which is prescribed I have not yet determined. 

 Shooting will be probably out of the question, as I 

 cannot use the left eye in any form of recreation. 

 My idea is rather to go to Egypt and Palestine^ to 

 take a voyage to the Cape, or in some other such 

 way to break my usual habits without altogether 

 wasting time. 



