"In these cases there always exists, I believe, a want of general power and vigour of circulation at first; but in some instances of long-continued affection of this kind, the local circulation never regains its proper force and fulness; and the supply of blood is inadequate to support the functions of the part, although the general system recovers its natural tone and power." I think this statement very correct, and therefore the embrocations producing so much additional circulation, point out at once the essential oils, along with the water, as its proper remedy. I here quote Magendie, who corroborates the plan which I adopt--viz., the medicines being most useful when applied to the forehead and temples in amaurosis:-- EXTRACTS. "Lectures on the Physiology of the Nervous System, delivered in 1836, in the College of France, by Majendie."--_Lancet, April 29th, 1837, page 186._ "The integrity of both the optic and the fifth nerves, then, is indispensably necessary for the exercise of vision, which is lost whenever either of these nerves is separately destroyed." _Lancet, May 20th, 1837, page 279._ "Nervous pains of long duration and the greatest intensity have been quickly removed by topical applications to the temporal region." _Lancet, page 280._ "Amaurosis cannot be considered as a simple affection of the optic nerve; at least, in the actual state of the science, it is generally impossible to say that the fifth nerve has no connexion with the loss of sight, and in many cases the connexity is evident. Hence a rule which I invariably follow of addressing my remedies, in the first instance, to some of the branches of the frontal nerve; and I have frequently had the satisfaction of observing some of these cases of incomplete amaurosis improve sensibly under the influence of therapeutic agents applied to the fifth pair. I would go even further and say, whenever you have a case of incipient amaurosis, commence by acting on this nerve, for it is at once the most expeditious and efficient method. I cannot, however, quit this point without assuring you that no physician is capable of treating diseases of the eye unless fully in possession of the facts I have just had the honour of explaining to you. These facts are daily becoming more numerous and more convincing, and already a considerable number of our younger practitioners, who devote themselves to the study of diseases of the eye, are fully aware of the immense influence of the fifth pair of nerves over the exercise of vision." _Lancet, page 281._