Vol. XII. No. 285. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



103 



receivctl. but the quality is reported to be .-uperior to that 

 of I revious years. 



.■-utiAN The reports as to the cf ndition of the crops at 

 the Sudan Plantations Synclicate's Stitions at Zeidab and 

 Tayiba continue to be very satis-factory, ami there Lave been 

 200 ai'plications for land thi.< year, ne^irly all from local men. 

 Lord Kitchmer vi.-ited Tayiba early in January and made 

 a thorough in.'pection ot the eulti^1ltion and aiipeared 

 pleased with what he saw. 



U(;ami.v. The cotton crop appears. likely to be a record 

 one, and the purchases so far this sta.son have been greatly 

 in excess of any previous year. 



OPHTHALMIA IN ANIMALS. 



This condition may be defined as an intiammatory 

 affection of the eye and the adjacent >tructures. 



All domesticated animals may be affected by the simple 

 form, but cattle and young calves, and to a less extent, 

 horses and sheep, appear to be most sui^ceptible to the infec- 

 tious disease. 



CAUSES, (a) Simple ophthalmia. Thi.«> may be caused 

 by the presence of a foreign bod)-, e.g. a gra.ss seed, 

 dust, etc, in the eye Mechanical irjnries may also pro- 

 duce the same condition, as also may prolonged exposure 

 to sun-glare, rains, and cold winds, (b) The \erminous form. 

 This is caused by Filaria oculi (inobabiy the larva of 

 I'ilaiia fernua). This is a thin white tii.form worm, 

 about \ to i inch in length, the fuiiale being the 

 longer, and no thicker than a human hair, which gains 

 access U< the aqueous humour or anterior chamber of the 

 •ye. In some cases, two or more may be found The 

 vorm is best seen early in the attack before inflammation 

 obscures the stiuctuies of the eye, and it may be observed 

 through a hand lens, or even with the naked eye, as an active- 

 ly motile body, resembling in shape, a piece of fine cotton. 

 It is possibly transmitted by flies and may be intro- 

 duced into a healthy herd by a new animal. It seems 

 to be more prevalent during drought, (c) Specific form. 

 A specific micro organism may be the cause of ophthalmia. 

 This would appear to be the probable cause in outbreaks 

 which are markedly infectious, several such cases having 

 -come under notice recently in the We.st Indies. No organism 

 has as yet, however, been demonstrated as the cau.sal agent. 



svMi'TOMs. The first noticeable sjmptom is a blinking 

 of the e)elids, whiih appear red and swollen. A dis 

 .eharge of tears occurs. The lids are tender and partially 

 closed and the visible mucous membianes are inflamed and 

 red. The haw (or membrane at the corner of the eye) 

 projects more than usual and there is a marked sensi- 

 tiveness to light, natural or artificial. The discharge may 

 be tinged with blood and in three or four day.s may 

 be (juile thick and yellow and may contain pus; the 

 eyelids may become glued together by the discharge In 

 many cases the front of the eyeball is gradually covered 

 with a whitish film, due to inflammation of the cornea, thus 

 producing an opacity. The aqueous humour also becomes 

 turbid. Later on, an ulcer forms near the centre of the 

 cornea, and may work through by errosion, causing much 

 pain and loss of sight 



There is often some con.siderable con.stitutional dis- 

 turbance. The animal refuses its feed, separates itself fjom 

 the rest of the herd, and the ten perature of the animal 

 indicates the presence of fever. In the case of a cow in 

 milk, the supply is much decreased. 



Housed cattle seem to be more liable to the disease 

 than unhoused. One or both eyes appear to be affected, 

 and the result in some cases is total blindness, and the 



animal being unable to graze properly, loses condition.' 



Ki'KATioN. Slight cases may recover under treatment 

 in one to three weeks, other cases in two to four months^ 

 but the loss of sight is permanent. 



Tr.EATMENT. The eyes should be examined for seeds or 

 other foreign bodie?, and if present, these should be removed! 

 by means of a camel hair brush or feather. The animaL 

 should be kept in a cool dark place, separate from other 

 stock, as the disease in the infectious form may spread tO' 

 them. A purgative such a.i epsom salts should be given for 

 cattle, and aloes for horses; and nitre or hyposulphite of sodat 

 may be given in the drinking water. 



Local ajiplications of warm boracic acid should be u.sedi 

 twice daily for half an hour. In any case where only on&- 

 eye is affected it is wise to treat both eyes in order to avoid 

 infection. The eyelids should be opened by smearing: 

 vaseline between them. A clean piece of calico soaked it>. 

 boracic solution should be tied over the eyes to protect theitti 

 from dust, light, and flies. 



The choice of medicinal agents for local application is 

 wide. Lotions of boracic acid, salicylic acid or zinc sulphate 

 may be dropped into the eyes twice daily, the head being: 

 held up to receive it. If very painful, a sedative may be- 

 added to the lotion. 



Calomel in the tlry form, either pure or mixed withi 

 finely powdered white sugar, may be blown through a quilH 

 into the eye with good effect. 



In the West Indies some success has been obtained by- 

 the aiiplication of sugar and salt. 



If a film forms, the inflammation should Ije reduced firsts, 

 and an ointment of yellow oxide of mercury applied inside 

 the lids. 



The ulcer should be treated with a lotion of silver 

 nitrate and morphine on a feather, or touched with solidL 

 silver nitrate. 



The effect of treatment on the filaria, if present, is to kilH 

 it, when it drops to the bottom of the aqueous humour and 

 in course of time becomes absorbed. It is recommended that 

 the live worm should be removed from the eye by punctunngr 

 the cornea, but this is an operation requiring considerable skilli 

 in its performance, and a matter which should be left to th& 

 professional attendant. 



St. Kitts Agricultural and Industrial Show„ 

 1913. — A communication has been received from the Agri- 

 cultural Superintendent, St. Kitts, slating that the recent 

 exhibition in that island has this year again been successful. 

 The show was opened formally by His Honour the Adminis- 

 trator, and both he and the President of the Agricultural' 

 Society (Hon S. L Horsford) regretted the unavoidable- 

 absence of His Excellency the Governor, The Imperial 

 Comifsioner of Agriculture, and the Superintendent of 

 Agriculture for the Leeward Islands. 



The total number of exhibits was over SCO. The indoor- 

 section was superior to that of previous years, the show of; 

 sugar-cane and of green vegetables being particularly satisfac- 

 tory. The twelve cut canes for which the first prize was- 

 awarded weighed 140B)., and three cabbages that took first 

 prize, together weighed 32Aib., one weighing 12ilb. 



The stock was disappointing in number, and in no class^ 

 can competition be said to have been keen. Several fine- 

 specimens of 2 year old colts were exhibited. The driving: 

 and riding competitions were vigorouly contested and as 

 u.sual were an attractive feature of the day's proceedings. 



Further information in connexion with the awards of 

 prizes and other matters will be given in a future issue of the^ 

 Aijrimltur-d A'eics. 



