Amaurosis, or gutta serena, is the name applied to a disease, in which the optic nerve, or the brain, is so disordered, as to give rise to imperfect sight. Amaurosis may be consequent upon some structural disease of the brain, or of the optic nerve. It may follow a blow, or some other form of violence received on the head; and it has been known to come on during immoderate suckling, and after excessive loss of blood. In some cases, it is difficult to make out the cause.

Symptoms

In gutta serena the eye is clear, bright, and transparent; the pupil is dilated, and the iris sluggish at first, immovable afterwards, as tested by the introduction of light into the eye. The movements of the animal show that there is partial or total blindness; he stumbles against every object in his way, and his whole gait is peculiar and characteristic. These symptoms may depend on several different pathological conditions of the interior of the eye. The human oculist has proved, by means of the ophthalmoscope, that the lesions which affect the internal structures are numerous and various, and that they are improperly classified under the general head of amaurosis. But such distinctions have yet to be drawn in canine pathology. The old names, though wanting in scientific accuracy, are retained as conveniently designating those cases of blindness which are dependent on obscure and unascertained changes in the visual apparatus, especially the nervous part of it.

Youatt records an instructive case, in which the symptoms were those of amaurosis, and were probably caused by extravasation of blood from rupture of the retinal bloodvessels. He says, - "A dog received a violent blow on the right eye. Immediate blindness occurred, or the dog could apparently just discern the difference between light and darkness, but could not distinguish particular objects. The pupil was expanded and immovable. A pink-coloured hue could be perceived on looking earnestly into the eye." The dog was treated as was the fashion when Youatt flourished; but the blindness remained and the dog was killed.

Treatment

Medicines have little or no effect on this disease. Attention should be paid to the general health as directed for cataract.