DISEASES OF THE CONJUNCTIVA 67 



character, and is deposited, in conjunction with the 

 secretion of the meibomian glands, at the angle of the 

 Hds. In some cases there is no secretion and the mem- 

 brane is reddened and dry. When this is the case 

 increased winldng occurs in order to moisten the cornea. 

 Winking may be increased also when there is a thick- 

 ened secretion, to free the cornea of the mucoid fila- 

 ments which stick over the pupillary area and interfere 

 with vision. These filaments may also form in folds and 

 act as a foreign body in the eye. The Hds become heavy 

 and drowsy in appearance. The secretion upon the 

 margin of the lids may produce a blepharitis. At this 

 stage loose lashes drop out, and find their way into the 

 eye by rubbing it against some object to reheve the itch- 

 ing and burning sensation. The lower Kd is often de- 

 pressed or everted and the tears flow over the cheek, 

 because the lower punctum is drawn away from the 

 globe. 



This type is often seen in animals that are in poor 

 health. Pasturing in low and damp lands is said to 

 cause it even in young foals. Dust, wind, smoke, and 

 irritating gases are common causes. It is often asso- 

 ciated with skin diseases about the head and face. 

 Duane says, ' 'Usually the chronic form of conjunctivitis 

 (in man) is that produced by the diplococcus of Morax- 

 Axenfeld. There may be very little injection of the 

 conjunctiva, no swelhng of the latter, and little or no 

 secretion." On the other hand, the writer has seen 



