A woman of 47 years, Mrs. C. G., a native American of good social standing in New York City, came to me on Dec. 20, 1933, with the complaint of marked diminution of vision in both eyes which had suddenly occurred while she was reading a week ago. Furthermore, directly in her line of vision was a "large blotch of deep mahogany color." Prior to this there had been no ocular history and her vision for distance had been normal ; reading glasses had been used for the past three years. There was no history of trauma. However, for the past seven months there had been persistent diarrhea and during the last two months some vomiting. Her appetite was poor and she had lost some weight, but she still appeared well nourished. She stated that she drank occasional highballs and cocktails but not to excess ; cigaret smoking was moderate. Ocular