I did not repeat the above remedy, as the boy's eyes continued
well, without any defect in the vision at any time of the day or
night, till seven-and-twenty days had elapsed, when the disorder
returned. I procured the remedy again, and he took it; it had the
same effect as before; he took it again, and then continued well
for a month. It again returned a third time, and was cured by one
single administration, after which it entirely disappeared, and
never returned. Some time after this, I was informed that the
British fleet in the Mediterranean was affected with this disorder;
that one-tenth, or more, of the crews of our ships had laboured
under it; and, on my return to England, I was urged to represent to
His Majesty's ministers, that I had an infallible remedy for the
disorder. I was referred to Doctor Harness, of the Transport Board.
I waited on the Doctor, and afterwards corresponded with him. He
appeared very desirous of knowing the remedy; but he was not at
liberty to grant me any remuneration for it. I, however, offered to
discover it, on being reimbursed the sum which the remedy cost me,
335 on experimental proof being produced of its infallibility; which
proposition was rejected by the Transport Board in August, 1812,
who informed me at the same time, that the Lords Commissioners of
the Admiralty did not judge proper to grant the sum required by me
for the discovery of the remedy for Nyctalopia, which, I should
add, was between 500_l_. and 600_l_. The remedy, therefore, remains
a secret to this day.

A celebrated electrician and galvanist having conversed with me
lately respecting this remedy for Nyctalopia, suggested to me the
probability, that the same remedy might be effectual also in _gutta
serena_, as both those disorders are known to proceed from a defect
in the optic nerve. This opinion he corroborated, by quoting, in
confirmation of it, the opinion of a well-known author. The
electrician perceiving my incredulity, or more properly, my
ignorance of the wonderful connection that exists between the
intestines and the head, was prompted, as I verily believe, by a
philanthropic disposition; and actually proved to me,
experimentally, the influence which the eyes have on the
intestines, and _vice versa_. A patient with a _gutta serena_,