CHAPTER XXI. 



DISEASES OP THE EYE. 



K. SPECIFIC OPHTHALMIA, OR MOON BLINDNESS. II. SIMPLE OPHTHALMIA, OK 



CONJUNCTIVITIS. III. AMAUROSIS, GDTTA SERENA, OR GLASS EYE. IV. 



GLAUCOMA. V. IRITIS. VI. LEUCOMA. VII. CATARACT. VIII. FILA- 



RIA OCULI, OR WORM IN THE EYE. IX. KNTROPIUM. X. ECTROPIUM. XI. 



TORN EYELIDS. XII. CANCEROUS TUMOR IN THE EYE. XIII. OBSTRUCTION 



OF THE LACHRYMAL DUCT. 



Diseases of the eye are not nearly as numerous among the equine 



race as in man, though it would be a mistake to infer from this that the 



eye is a less sensitive or complicated organ in the one than in the other. 



The oculary diseases of the horse are about all included in the list above 



given. 



I. Specific Ophthalmia, or Moon Blindness. 



This is the bane of horse-flesh in the West, where a multitude of 

 good horses lose their sight from an hereditary disease that is utterly 

 incurable, and runs on its certain course, fast or slow, to cataract. It 

 consists of inflammation of the cornea, choroid coat, ciliary processes and 

 iris, affecting, also, the humors and lens, and giving rise to an immense 

 amount of pain on account of the intro-ocular pressure. 



It is called speciHc on account of its occult cause, nature and perio- 

 dicity. While it is transmissible to the offspring from either parent, it is 

 especially so from the sire. 



How to know it. — There is swelling of the whole eye, lids, conjunctiva, 

 the mucous lining of the lids, and all internal 

 parts of the eye; and the cornea being in- 

 elastic, the pressure and pain are intense. The 

 eye is closed, or nearly so, from the light, 

 tears run down over the cheek, and the mu- 

 cous membranes become very red; and as a 

 result of the inflammation, pus is formed in 

 the anterior chamber, and may be seen as a 

 whitish substance down in the lower portion. 

 After a few days, the inflammation sub- 

 sides, goes away, and leaves the eye nearly as 

 bright as natural ; still, if examined carefully, 

 shreds of the lymph will be seen hanging 

 around in the anterior chamber, and the 

 pupil will be ragged. After a period of from 

 four months, the trouble will recur with 

 an aggravated degree; the whitish sub- 



MOON BLINDNESS. 



four weeks to three or 

 all the symptoms in 

 stance (lymph) becomes purulent, and, settling at the bottom, may 



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