156 OPHTHALMOLOGY FOR VETERINARIANS 



mare that has once suffered from recurrent ophthalmia, 

 and at the government studs in France not only is every 

 unsound stallion rejected, but the service of a healthy 

 stalHon is refused to any mare which has suffered from 

 disease of the eyes. A consideration for the future of 

 our horses would demand that no staUion shall stand 

 for the pubhc service of mares unless he has been ex- 

 amined and licensed as a sound animal." The months 

 of spring have some influence in producing an attack, 

 as well as pasturing on swampy lands, damp stabling, 

 improper and overfeeding, intestinal irritation, local 

 irritants, and debiHtating diseases. These may all be 

 exciting causes, yet there must be some specific bac- 

 terium which is the primary factor. 



Symptoms. — The disease first shows itself by local 

 irritation due to a low grade of uveitis, with a faint 

 whitish flocculent deposit in the anterior chamber. 

 There are later manifestations of iritis and cyclitis with 

 photophobia. The pupil is sluggish in its action, even 

 when mydriatics are employed. Exudates are thrown 

 off from the iris and adjacent body, and are deposited 

 in the dependent portion of the anterior chamber. 

 In many cases a lymph deposit is diffused through the 

 aqueous, imparting to it a milky appearance and en- 

 tirely closing from view the pupillary area. The cornea 

 becomes hazy from the presence of this material on its 

 posterior surface and from cellular infiltration. If the 

 inflammation is not too severe, it ceases in from twelve 



