Recurrent Ophthalmia in Solipeds. Moonblindjiess. 409 



Ivafosse records the existence of a family of horses in Southern 

 France all of which went blind. The same cause has greatly ex- 

 tended the disease among fast American horses in which the great 

 strain of the track served to intensif}- the tendency. The 

 writer has seen a colt which was born blind, by a blind dam and 

 got by a sire with diseased eyes, but still held at $300 for service. 

 Mangin, Marimpocy and Hamon record congenital cases from 

 parents with affected ej'es. 



This hereditary susceptibility is so strong and pernicious that in- 

 telligent horsemen everywhere refuse to breed from either horse 

 or mare that has once suffered from recurrent ophthalmia, and at 

 the Government studs in France not only is every unsoinid stal- 

 lion rejected but the service of the healthy stallion is refused to 

 any mare which has suffered from disease of the e3'es. A con- 

 sideration for the future of our horses would demand that no 

 stalli(jn shall stand for the public service of mares unless he has 

 been examined and licensed as a sound animal. 



Yet, as already stated, heredity is not the one controlling 

 factor, since the offspring of the victims of this disease will often 

 escape when brought tip in a high, dr}' localit3^ 



Reynal records the appearance of the disease in alternate gen- 

 erations, the stallion offspring of blind parents remaining sound 

 himself t)ut producing foals which became victims of the disease 

 in large numbers. A partial explanation may be found in the 

 better conditions under which the stud horse was kept, while 

 under less favorable surroundings his offspring developed the 

 disease. 



It in 1st b^ allil that every condition which induces debility 

 or ill health is favorable to the development of the malady. The 

 presence of worms in the bowels is a familiar example. An}'' 

 debilitating disease like strangles, influenza, contagious pneu- 

 monia, indigestion, etc., and overwork or insufficient or in- 

 digestible food act in the same manner. 



Again, local irritants may rouse the latent tendency. Street 

 or .stable dust, sand, hay seeds, chaff, blows on the eye with 

 whip or other object, wounds, irritant gases, smoke, fierce light, 

 cold draughts, storms, and whatever determines inflammation of 

 the eye may be the occa.sion of an outbreak of recurrent oph- 

 thalmia. 



