420 
CATARACT. 
a week ever since, and frequently examined every horse; so I 
am quite confident that there has been no disorder of the eyes 
up to about a fortnight before a Mr. Knight, who I suppose is 
a London dealer, called with an intent to purchase her, but dis¬ 
covered a cataract in each eye; in consequence of which a mes¬ 
sage was sent, requesting my immediate attendance; but by the 
time I arrived, that gentleman had made his exit. I went 
with the owner to the stable, with half a laugh on my face at 
the thoughts of a cataract, well knowing from my frequent inspec¬ 
tion, and that of an attentive groom, that there had been no pre¬ 
vious inflammation; but after placing the animal in a proper 
light, my laugh was turned to an amort look, for I plainly dis¬ 
covered a white speck in the antero-inferior margin of each lens. 
This kept progressively increasing for three months, at which 
time it was about half the bulk of a moderate sized pea, while the 
eyes in all other respects appeared perfectly bright. Being assured, 
by the manner of its proceeding, that it would ultimately end in 
total blindness, she was sold for a trifle to a person who intended 
to keep her, owing to the beautiful symmetry of her frame, for a 
brood mare; but I regret that I have not had an opportunity of 
seeing her since. 
CASE II. 
A hack mare, about five years old, was brought to me, with an 
accident of the near eye, by its owner, who had ridden her con- 
stantly for two years. When I went towards her, she appeared to 
be very shy; and while at a distance, I could plainly perceive a 
white round speck in the centre of the crystalline lens of the 
other eye ; and after inquiring if there had been any thing the 
matter with an eye or eyes before, the owner replied in the nega¬ 
tive. Shewing the cataract to a few attendants, and which 
was very perceptible to them all, I averred that it would end in 
blindness; but calling in about six weeks at the farm-house 
whence she came, I was astonished to find that the speck which, 
according to my prediction, was sure to cause blindness, had been 
absorbed, and not a vestige of it was to be seen. 
With every good wish for the increasing success of your in¬ 
valuable Journal, I am, &c. 
C. P. N. 
Another anonymous communication on this most important 
subject, and also deprived of the greater part of its value by be¬ 
ing anonymous! The post-mark and the initials may enable us 
to guess at the author; but why this system, which we must now 
peremptorily stop? To us the name of the correspondent must 
and shall be no secret. 
