DISEASES OF THE EYE. 525 
lost its bright colour, and often shows one or two white specks upon it 
(these must not be confounded with specks on the cornea). As the disease 
advances, the intolerance of light is very great, the cornea and iris become 
gradually more muddy, and either lymph is thrown out on the latter in 
the shape of white patches, or pus is secreted and fills the chamber of the 
aqueous humour, in part or wholly. If the treatment is sufficiently 
energetic, these signs abate, the pus or lymph is absorbed, and the eye 
recovers its transparency; but there are generally some traces left 
behind. Bleeding (either from the jugular or the angular veins of the 
face), moderate purging, and a seton, are the remedies best calculated 
to effect this object, conjoined with an airy stable and a light diet. 
Unfortunately, however, iritis is almost sure to return on the restoration 
of the usual food, and exposure to the elements ; and hence it is of the 
utmost consequence in purchasing a horse to examine his eyes for the 
marks left behind by it. If the case is hopeless, it becomes a question 
whether or not it will be wise to put an end to the inflammation by 
destroying the affected eye, for it is well known that if it goes on for any 
length of time, the other, sound eye, becomes affected. The only difficulty 
consists in feeling assured that there is really no chance of recovery ; for 
when once the eye is finally condemned, the sooner it is opened and its 
contents evacuated, the sooner will the horse return to his work, and the 
more chance has the other eye of escaping. The operation is very simple, 
and merely requires a sharp-pointed knife to be passed into the anterior 
chamber from one edge of the cornea, and driven back till it cuts into the 
lens, when it is to be brought out on the other side of the cornea, and 
the whole of the humours will escape on making pressure upon the upper 
eyelid. 
In ingurtes of the eye, fomentation with warm water should be carried 
on for half an hour, and then omitted for three or four hours; after which 
it may be repeated again and again, at similar intervals. Great care should 
be taken to remove any extraneous bodies, such as particles of dust, &. 
CATARACT, or opacity of the lens, is very commonly the result of iritis, 
its capsule having been coated with a layer of white lymph, deposited by 
the inflamed vessels ; but it also sometimes makes its appearance without 
being preceded by ary of the signs of inflammation. In the former case, 
the early symptoms are those of iritis ; but in the latter, the opacity often 
goes on increasing, without the owner of the horse, or his groom, having 
his attention drawn to the eyes, until he finds that he is nearly blind. 
This progress is generally marked by the development of an unusual 
timidity ; the previously bold animal is alarmed at objects advancing on 
the road, and covered carts and waggons, of which he formerly took no 
notice, occasion him to shy in the most timid manner. On examining his 
eyes carefully, instead of the beautifully clear pupil, with the reflection of 
tapetum lucidum shining through it, there is seen either a mass of dull 
white, generally more opaque in the centre, or an appearance of mottled, 
semi-transparent soap, or, lastly, one or two distinct white spots, not quite 
circular, but with irregular edges. In confirmed cataract, the white pupil 
can be seen at any distance ; but in the very early stage, only a practised 
eye can detect the opacity, which, however, is so manifest to him, that he 
wonders it is not visible to every one else. The reason of this difficulty 
of detecting the alteration of structure seems to be, that inexperienced 
examiners look at the eye in such a manner that they are confused by the 
reflection on it of their own faces, hiding all beneath. If, however, they 
will turn their heads a little more on one side, this will disappear, and 
