BLIND

and BLINDNESS. In medical terminology the expre ion blindne means absolute sightle ne ; partial blindne being known medically as amaurosis or Amblyopia. Blindne cannot always be accounted for, but in general it may be said to arise from inflammatory or degenerative changes in some part of the path between the cornea without and the visual center (or that part of grey matter especially concerned with sight) within. Through better comprehension of the causes, and through modern development of hygienic ideas and of medical science, blindne is now on the decrease. The most important cause is purulent inflammation of the eyes of newly born infants, which can in nearly every case be very simply prevented, and, in its early stages, always cured. Moreover, it has been calculated that half the blindne existing is preventable in one way or another. See under Err.