DISEASES OF THE EYE. 291 



Locally the astriniient lotions adviseil for I'Xtonml ophthalmin may 

 be resorted to, espeeially when the superfieial inllaiuniatiou is well 

 marked. Moi-e important, however, is to instill into the eye. a few 

 drops at a time, a solution of 4 <rrains of atropia in 1 ounce of dis- 

 tilled water. This may he etl'ected with the aid of a soft feather, and 

 may be i-epeated at intervals of 10 minutes until the pupil is widely 

 dilated. As the horse is to l)e kept in a dark st-all. the consefpient 

 admission of litrht will be hannless, and the dilation of the pupil 

 prevents adhesion between the iris and lens, relieves the constant 

 tension of the eye in the effort to adapt the jMipil to the liiiht. and 

 solicits the contraction of the blood vessels of the eye and the lessen- 

 ing of conjfcstitm, exudation, and intraocular pressure. Should 

 atropiiv not a^ree with the CAse, it may be replaced by mori)hia 

 (same strencrth) or cocaine in 4 per cent solution. Another local 

 measure is a blister, which can usually be api)lied to advantaire on 

 the side of the nose or beneath the ear. Spanish flies may be used as 

 for external ophthalmia. In very severe cases the parts beneath the 

 eye may be shaved and three or four leeches apjiliod. Setons are 

 sometimes beneficial, and even puncture of the eyeball, but these 

 should be reserved for professional hands. 



The diet throu«;hout should be easily digestible and moderate in 

 quantity — bran mash, middlings, grass, steamed hay, etc. 



Even after the active inflammation hus subsided the atropia lotion 

 should be continued for several weeks to keep the eye in a .state of i-est 

 in its still weak and irritable condition, and during this period the 

 patient should l>e kept in semidarknei=s. or taken out only with a dark 

 shade over the eye. For the same reason heavy drafts and, rapid 

 paces, which would cause congestion of the head, should be carefully 

 avoided. 



RECURRENT OPHTHALMIA (PERIODIC OPHTHALMIA, OR MOON- 

 BLINDNESS). 



This is an inflannnatory affection of the interior of the eye, inti- 

 mately related to certain soils, climates, and systems, .showing a strong 

 tetidencv to recur again and again, and usually ending in blindness 

 from cataract or other .serious injury. 



('cntses. — Its causes may be fundamentally attributed to soil. On 

 dami> clays and marshy grounds, on the fn'(|uently overflowed river 

 bottoms and deltas, on the coasts of seas and lakes alternately sub- 

 merged and exposed, this disease prevails extensively, and in many 

 instances in France (Keynal). Belgium. Als-jice (Zundel. Milten- 

 berger), fiermany. and England it has \eiv largely decri-ased under 

 land drainage and improved methods of culture. Other influences, 

 more or less associated with such soil, are potent causativ<' fartors. 

 Thus damp air and a cloudy, wet climate, so constantly associated 



