George Leo Haydock, on Tob 2:11

“And as he was sleeping, hot dung out of a swallow’s nest fell upon his eyes, and he was made blind.”

“Swallow’s. Greek denotes “sparrows,” or any other small birds: strouthia . (Serarius) — Eyes. Greek observes that they were “opened.” Hebrew, “by chance.” Yet “hares, and many men, sleep with their eyes open,” (Pliny [Natural History?] xi. 37.) as was here the case. (St. Athanasius, Synops.) — lf not, the dung might insinuate itself by rubbing. It is extremely caustic. (Vales. 42.; Aldrov.17.; &c.) — The blindness of Tobias was only a suspension of sight. (Calmet) — Blind. Greek, “white specks or skins came upon my eyes, and I went to the physicians, but they afforded me no relief. But Achiachar fed me (Haydock) till I (or he) went to Elymais;” Hebrew of Fagius, “into Germany.” (Calmet) — Almniim. (Haydock)”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.