65 



Eiglitj (80) cases were reported in siicli a manner as to 

 leave in doubt just Avlien they occurred ; 33 cases were re- 

 ported as beintr iu existence at the time (January and Feb- 

 ruarj^) of replying; 7 parties report that the disease was 

 prevjilent in their respective beats ten to twenty years ago, 

 but not of late years. During the first three months of 

 18'. '2 and during the same time in 1893, 21 cases have come 

 under my observation at the free Saturday clinic; these 

 cases were from the country and towns surrounding Auburn, 

 and represent fully ten per cent, of all the diseased cases 

 that appeared at the free clinic during the same time. The 

 above records certainly indicate that periodic opthalmia is 

 a common disease among horses and mules of Alabama ; 

 and according to the reports on other eye diseases it is the 

 most prevalent and frequent cause of l)liudness. 



The reports do not give data sufficient for one to state in 

 just what beats it occurs, but they do show that moonblind- 

 ness has been, or is at present, in nearly every county in 

 the State ; that annually a great many valuable horses go 

 blind as a result of it. Generally speaking, the reports 

 seem to indicate that the disease is most prevalent in the 

 low lands or malarial districts of the State ; yet the knowl- 

 edge given of the local geography of the places from which 

 the reports come, is not sufficient for one to make an accu- 

 rate comparison. 



From the replies I find that a variety of opinions were 

 expressed as to the cause, and a great many failed to ex- 

 press their views, while others said they did not know. 

 Let me now give a concensus of the opinions expressed. 

 Six parties believed that improper and irregular feeding are 

 important factors in the cause of moonblinduess ; 3 say 

 "not enough variety in diet;" 1 believe "too much fodder 

 and grain and not enough hay" is the cause; 1 says "feeding 

 corn to colts;" 9 claim "feeding corn as an exclusive grain 

 diet" is the direct cause; 3 give "exposure to cold" the 

 credit ; 1 says the "eruption of permanent teeth and the 

 shedding of colt teeth;" 1 says "blind teeth;" 1 makes 



