41 8 Veterhia^y Medicine. 



her eyes fail, her value in the public market is greatly depreciated, 

 yet she can yearly produce a foal, which is finely developed and 

 will bring a high price if sold young, before it has been attacked 

 by the disease. Hence the great importance, at least in the case 

 of all horses which are not intended for exclusive use on the race 

 course, that a law shall be strictly enforced which will put an ab- 

 solute limit to the breeding from horses that have been affected 

 with recurrent ophthalmia. 



Blows, dust, sand, smoke, irritant gases, fierce light, and all 

 sources of irritation must be avoided as in other eye diseases. 



Treatment. Radical treatment for the disease is far from gen- 

 erally satisfactory. Too often the affected animal is still in the 

 environment which has tended strongly to its development, and 

 it is impossible to secure a satisfactory change. As far as possi- 

 ble, however, every available sanitary measure mentioned under 

 the head of prevention should be enjoined, and largely in propor- 

 tion to the thoroughness of such measures, and the slightness 

 and recentness of the attack will be the hope of a successful treat- 

 ment. 



In some instances in which there appears to be a rheumatic 

 complication, the employment of anti-rheumatic agents have 

 proved of essential value. Powdered colchicum corms may be 

 given twice a day in doses of i scruple, combined with salicylate 

 of ^oda, salicylic acid, or salicin in 2 drachm doses. To these 

 may be added bicarbonate of soda or of potash in drachm doses. 



In cases attended with marked fever, h3'perthermia and anor- 

 exia, antiphlogistic treatment may be desirable, but with the 

 primary consideration that it must not be materially depleting, 

 nor calculated to induce debility or atony. A laxative dose of 

 aloes will sometimes benefit, but should be avoided in the absence 

 of manifest fever. Two or three ounces of Glauber salts, twice 

 a day, will effect the same purpose with less danger. Or salt- 

 peter or other cooling diuretic may be given daily. In mcst cases 

 bitters may be added with advantage. 



In» severe cases, rest is essential until the violence of the inflam- 

 mation shall have abated, and a dark stall or a cloth to obscure 

 the light is equally important. 



Trasbot advises bleeding from the jugular, but such a deplet- 

 ing measure finds little support in England or America. Local 



