DISEASES OP THE EYE. 405 



body, occasionally results in partial or even in complete, though generally 

 only temporary, opacity of that structure. This opacity is caused by the 

 deposit left on the part by the results of inflammation. The deposit is 

 indicated by a white fleecy appearance, and is usually situated between 

 the conjunctival membrane a"nd the cornea, or in severe cases between 

 the layers of the cornea. 



Under favorable circumstances the deposit will be removed in time by 

 the ordinary operations of nature, but in aggravated cases it will probably 

 be in some degree permanent. 



The best chance of removing it consists in the use of stimulants and 

 astringents, with view of exciting the absorbents to increased action ; but 

 these agents must be used with great caution. 



The after deposit must not be confounded with the general opacity of 

 the cornea, which often accompanies the inflammation and generally sub- 

 sides with it. 



In cases of redness of the eye, such as may occur from various causes, 

 a lotion of one third of a grain of cocaine in six ounces of water will be 

 found very beneficial. 



For exceedingly severe injuries, such as concussion of the retina, rup- 

 ture of the internal blood-vessels, loss of proper connection of the iris, and 

 displacement of the lens nothing can really be done. It will of course be 

 advisable to use the remedies recommended above for reducing the in- 

 flammation and placing the parts in as favorable a condition as possible. 

 Partial or complete opacity will however be the result. Loss of the lens 

 necessarily produces total blindness in the horse, though in man its loss 

 may be partially supplied by glasses. 



These very severe accidental injuries are happily rare, because the 

 violence is generally mitigated, as regards the eye, by the projection of 

 the supra-orbital process and by the power which the horse possesses of 

 drawing the eye far back into its orbit. 



For common ophthalmia, arising from or rather connected with catarrh 

 and influenza, no treatment is necessary beyond cooling lotions and 

 diminished light, as the disease is only sympathetic and usually subsides 

 with the primary affection. 



In treating diseases of the eye we must always remember the great 

 sympathy which exists between double organs, such as the eyes. Nothing 

 is more common than to find that the eye, which was not at first affected, 

 also becomes involved. 



843. Specific Ophthalmia. 



Specific, otherwise variously termed Periodical, Constitutional, Heredi- 

 tary ophthalmia, or moon blindness, is inflammation of the deep-seated 

 tissues of the eye. 



In the very early stage many of the symptoms are the same as those 

 of common ophthalmia. If, however, on examination we can discover no 

 sufficient cause for the closing of the eye, such as an external wound or 

 a catarrhal affection, there is always some reason to fear that the attack 

 may be the Specific disease. As the treatment in the early stage is the 



