374 ON AMAUROSIS^ AS THE 
to the atrophic imperfectly developed testicles/^ or to the special 
irritation but finds natural causes for natural effects. The pas¬ 
sages are larger and more extensible; the parts disposed to pro¬ 
trude, the intestines, being in a state of inanity, are contracted, 
and consequently smaller: in other words, the containing parts, so 
far from offering resistance or obstacles to protrusion, rather in¬ 
vite it, while the contained parts are in a fitter state to take 
advantage of this, to which they may, perhaps (as Girard re¬ 
marks), be in some degree urged by the movements of the foetus 
in utero; and thus may rationally enough be explained M. Langue- 
nard’s observation, that congenital hernia is invariably present 
at birth,even in abortions and in subjects still-bom.^’ 
V.—OF EPIPLOCELE. 
We have already shown that epiplocele is the frequent companion of 
enterocele, without adding to the importance of the case; and we have also 
explained, that epiplocele, of itself, was nowise dangerous ; on the contrary, 
that it has occurred without any symptoms of pain or deranged functions: 
in fact, without intestine, the protruded omentum gives rise simply to a soft 
indolent tumour, confined to the groin, and unvarying in volume unless it 
receive additional contents; whilst enterocele diminishes and again en¬ 
larges by intermissions. 
M. Roupp has assured me, that in the course of his castrations of cart 
horses he has on several occasions met with hernial omentum, which he has 
invariably amputated without any ill consequences. 
iaxtract^ from SournalgJ, dFoittgn anl» 33omtst(t. 
ON AMAUROSIS, OR GUTTA SERENA, AS THE 
CONSEQUENCE OF STAGGERS. 
NONE of our best veterinary writers mention a supposed and 
veiy probable sequela of staggers—amaurosis, or gutta serena, or 
palsy of the optic nerve. Mr. Percivall, speaking of amaurosis, 
says, that ^^it was referable, in every case which had come to his 
knowledge, to injuiy or disease of the brain.’’ Mr. Blaine says, 
that any irritation on the tubercula quadrigemina, or even 
pressure on them, which is liable to arise within the head from 
' many causes, may occasion itbut neither of them has traced it 
to the direct agency of, and sometimes appearing at a very distant 
