DISEASES OF THE EYE. 43 



It seldom happens, however, that it is so, for in six weeks 

 or two months we too frequently find the eye again affected 

 with all its former redness, often worse than on the 

 former attack ; or oftentimes both eyes afiected. Indeed 

 from time to time a succession of these abatements and 

 attacks will have succeeded one another, until a cloudy 

 appearance and permanent opacity of the lens or capsule 

 of the eye have taken place ; and confirmed blindness in one 

 or both eyes is the final result. 



Cause. — The constant heated air of the stable may be 

 considered the remote cause of this inveterate disease, to 

 which all horses seem to be predisposed. The poisoned air 

 is also a powerful agent in the propagation of ophthalmia. 

 To these may be added the too frequent use of stables 

 which are totally dark, so that when the animal is suddenly 

 brought to the light, the abrupt transition produces a spas- 

 modic efiect on the muscles and vessels of the eye, and 

 will cause that excessive inflammation which accompanies 

 this disease. 



Eemedies. — When this disease first makes its appearance, 

 the inside of the eyelids should be freely lanced, which 

 often has the efiect of stopping the complaint. The horse 

 should then be put upon a low diet, and gentle purgatives 

 administered. Bleeding at the jugular-vein or temporal- 

 artery has often proved beneficial in diseases of the eye. 



When the cornea presents a cloudy appearance, bleeding 

 and cooling medicines are the most likely to relieve it ; and 

 then use some exciting means to give energy to the absorb- 

 ents. For this purpose the eye should be washed with a 

 weak solution of corrosive sublimate, viz., two grains of the 

 sublimate to an ounce and a half of water. 



If opacity of the lens has taken place, we are not aware 

 of any means of removing it. 



