DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 137 



iiot need to be considered in this little book. There is 

 one disease, however, which is very frequent in horses 

 in this country and will therefore require consideration. 

 I refer to 



CONSTITUTIONAL OPHTHALMIA MOON 

 BLINDNESS MOON EYE. 



Causes. This disease is very strongly inherited. It 

 may appear in the offspring at about the same age that 

 it appeared in the parent, or perhaps earlier. The ten- 

 dency of this desease to transmission is so well under- 

 stood in France that the French government studs will 

 not allow one of their stallions to serve a mare that has 

 suffered from it. Bad ventilation in close stables is an 

 active cause. If the drainage is bad the ammonia em- 

 anation from the urine will act as a strong irritant to 

 the eyelids. Exposure in stormy weather is also a cause ; 

 also pasturing colts on a d^mp, marshy soil. It is very 

 apt to appear during the teething period. Over-work- 

 ing young animals is a frequent cause. 



Symptoms. The eyelids are usually considerably in- 

 flamed, swollen and tender; in a day or two there will be 

 a white material deposited over the front of the eyeball, 

 sometimes slight fever and loss of appetite; great desire 

 to rub the eyelids on the side of the stall, and usually a 

 flow of tears over the face. 



Treatment. -If the patient is run down from over- 

 work, it should have rest and be liberally fed with good, 

 nutritious food. Give internally the following ball: 

 Barbadoes aloes, five drams, ginger, one dram, and re- 

 move any irritating cause that may be present. A most 



