336 REPORT ON THE DISEASES OF FARM HORSES. 



tried with, advantage, along with laxative and sedative medicines, 

 when they can be used. If the vein continues hard and corded, 

 apply a blister three successive days, avoiding the orifices of 

 the wound. 



DISEASES OF THE ORGANS OF VISION. 



Ophthalmia, or Conjunctivitis. Inflammation of the super- 

 ficial membranous covering of the eyeball, is a common occur- 

 rence to farm horses. It occurs from blows occasioned by a 

 whip lash, from the intrusion of hay seeds, oat flyers, chaff, and 

 other bodies, which occasion a violent irritation. It also occurs 

 from exposure to cold winds, and as a result of, or sequel to, 

 other diseases, as strangles or influenza, &c. 



Symptoms. — The eye is half closed, and copious tears are 

 discharged ; the surface of the eyeball is white, rough, and 

 opaque, but in the earlier stages dull, and the vessels are 

 enlarged and injected with blood. The inner surface of the eye- 

 lids are reddened, and the whole organ is hot and tender. 



Treatment. — Eemove all foreign bodies by means of the 

 fingers, a pair of forceps, or anything which may enable the act 

 to be accomplished — sometimes the handkerchief, or a camel 

 hair pencil will answer very well indeed. 



Weak zinc or lead lotion will be found necessary, and a 

 laxative should be administered. Goulard's extract, in the pro- 

 portion of half an ounce to one pint of water, Sulphate of zinc, 

 five grains ; nitrate of silver, three grains ; or alum, five grains 

 to the ounce of water, in the forms usually found useful, applied 

 several times a day. 



Modifications in the treatment will be required when the 

 disease accompanies low typhoid fevers, as influenza, &c. 



Specific Ophthalmia, commonly called Moon Blindness, 

 from the frequency with which the disease is known to occur, 

 is a disease affecting the choroid coat of the eye. It consists of 

 inflammation and infiltration of yellow lymph, and is commonly 

 associated with common or conjunctival ophthalmia. The func- 

 tions of vision are destroyed by the action. The causes are 

 those which act both locally and generally — as of the first, im- 

 pure stables, and the effect of cold winds during perspiration, 

 &c, &c. ; and of the second, as constitutional affections of a 

 rheumatic character, influenza, &c. Sometime ago I saw fifteen 

 pairs of farm horses deprived of sight, as a result of an ill 

 ventilated stable ; and about the same period, a gentleman, who 

 purchased several hunters, successively returned them on account 

 of a supposed pre-affection of the eyes. Prior to the fourth 

 being returned to the dealer, I was called, and detected the cause 

 in the want of ventilation, the groom having stopped all the out- 

 lets to make a fine coat. The first case cited was caused by 



