142 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 



438. Cataract. — Opacity of the lens or of its capsule. 



Causes. — Usually results from repeated attack or recurrent 

 ophthalmia. 



Symptoms. — Blindness, and opacity or cloudiness of the lens. 

 The lens turns white and is no longer transparent as in the healthy 

 'eye. 



Treatment. — No treatment will restore the eye to its normal 

 •condition. 



439. Wounds of the eyelids. 



Causes. — Kicks, and tears by nails or other sharp objects. 



Treatment. — Clean the part thoroughl}^, removing all dried blood, 

 pus, hair, and dirt, and draw the edges of the wound together with a 

 ifine needle and a piece of silk thread, being careful not to injure 

 the eye. When the stitches are all in, touch the edges of the wound 

 with tincture of iodine and dust with boric acid or iodoform. Care 

 must be taken not to let the iodine enter the eye. When the parts 

 are badly swollen, apply a pad of cotton and gauze and keep it 

 . saturated as prescribed for conjunctivitis (par. 435). Dress the 

 wound daily as directed in paragraphs 355 and 359. The animal 

 jnust be cross tied or in some way prevented from injming the wound. 



