69 



High feeding, with irregular exercise ; excessive and ex- 

 hausting work ; exposure to cokl (rheumatic influences) are 

 to be avoided as far as possible, especially with animals 

 affected with periodic opthalmia or predisposed to it. 



The indiscriminate use of blind animals for breeding pur- 

 poses can not be too strongly condemned. Heridity is cer- 

 tainly the most potent predisposing cause of periodic opthal- 

 mia. Mares Avith weak eyes and with a lymphatic temper- 

 ment and structure should not be bred to stallions of similar 

 temperment and form. 



Proper curative treatment will sometimes check the pro- 

 gress of the disease, and may, in rare instances, result in 

 permanent relief. During the active inflammatory stage 

 bathe the eye in cold or hot water for 1 to 2 hours morning 

 and evening ; after each bathing put into the eye a few drops 

 of the following solution : Potassium Iodide, 10 grains ; 

 Atropia Sulphate, 1 grain ; Boracic Acid, 10 grains ; Pure 

 Water, 2 ounces. This medicine may be used for 6 or 8 days 

 until the eye begins to clear up ; then use the same prescrip- 

 tion, omitting the Atropia Sulphate. When possible adjust 

 over the e3'e a cotton cloth or small bag of cotton, kept con- 

 stantly wet with cold or hot water. It is well to keep the 

 horse, during the inflammatory stage, in a dark box stall if 

 the ventilation, cleanliness and drainage of the stall is 

 healthful and good. If the horse is constipated a mild 

 purgative (one-half pound oi Glauber's salts or one-half pint 

 of raw linseed oil) may be given. Constipation may be 

 thereafter avoided by giving a bran mash once or twice per 

 week. Moderate and regular exercise or easy work is bene- 

 ficial, but keeping the afiected horse or mule at hard work 

 is decidedly injurious. In every instance it is wise to remove, 

 when possible, all predisposing or attending causes. 



As indicated in several reports from different parts of the 

 State, periodic opthalma seems to be disappearing in cer- 

 tain localities. It will certainly decrease in frequency, or 

 entirely disappear, in nearly every beat in Alabama when 

 the stock raisers comply with the hygienic laws, govern- 



