ON CATARACT. 
371 
f< To the Editor of the Shrewsbury Chronicle.—Roberts v. Croft . 
‘ Who shall decide when doctors disagree V 
<f Sir,—On reading in your paper of last week the trial at the 
county assizes respecting the soundness of a horse, I was very 
much struck with the evidence given by Mr. Clay, inasmuch as 
I consider what he said contrary to general facts : I shall there¬ 
fore be obliged by your insertion of a few observations which I 
had to make upon this evidence. He asserts ‘ that a cataract 
may be formed in a fortnight or three weeks,’ and that he has 
known many instances where it had been formed even in less 
time. Now, the horse in dispute was sold on the 23d of June, 
and Mr. Hickman examined him on, he believes, the 4th of 
July, and then found he had a cataract in his eye; so that there 
would be, in this case, only about ten days for the cataract to 
be formed in, and which time Mr. Clay thinks it ‘ exceedingly 
probable’ for it to be produced. It is well known, that in the 
production of cataracts in the horse several attacks of inflam¬ 
mation precede such formation, at intervals of a month or six 
weeks, or longer; and I believe I shall be borne out by veterinary 
surgeons generally, that no cases of cataracts (except through 
accidents) ever occur without being preceded by such attacks 
of inflammation ; and that it is contrary to facts for a cataract 
to be formed so as to be visible in so short a time as what he 
asserts. Indeed, so regularly does this inflammation take place, 
that it has obtained the appellation of 6 moon blindness,’ in 
consequence of that luminary being supposed the cause of it, 
by affecting them periodically; but in this case there is not a 
word mentioned about inflammation existing* whilst the horse 
was in Mr. Croft’s stable, and I suppose there was none. 
Mr. Clay again asserts, ‘ that it does not require a severe inflam¬ 
mation to cause cataract;’ but, on the contrary, says, c that a 
very slight degree of inflammation will produce it;’ and, to 
prove this, he further asserts ‘ that he has known the disease 
(cataract) formed without the keeper knowing any thing about 
it.’ Here he has, in a manner, acknowledged that inflamma¬ 
tion does take place; and I presume that, in this case, none 
(apparent) existed •during the ten days; for it is generally the 
case, that when once a cataract has formed, the inflammation 
subsides, but not invariably so. Again, I believe there never 
yet was a case of cataract in the horse , but what inflammation 
was a forerunner to it, and this of no slight nature, and quite 
evident to any one of discernment; and 1 dare hazard an opi¬ 
nion, that this horse, either in Mr. Croft’s possession, or in others. 
