SECTION IX. 

 DISEASES OF THE EYES. 



In domesticated animals, apart from parasitic diseases, the diseases 

 of the eye which particularly deserve description and offer a special 

 clinical interest are very few. These are the diseases that affect the 

 globe of the eye or the organs annexed to it. 



FOREIGN BODIES. 



Foreign bodies become lodged on the internal surface of the eyelids, 

 in the folds of the conjunctiva, in the thickness of the cornea, and some- 

 times, though rarely, in the anterior chamber, the lens, or the vitreous 

 humour. They include particles of grit or dust, the awns and glumes 

 of grain, etc. 



The eyes are half closed and the conjunctiva is swollen, whilst the 

 eye weeps and the animals dread the light. 



Diagnosis. This is somewhat difficult, for the parts rapidly become 

 very sensitive, and the animals violently resist examination. When the 

 foreign body penetrates the anterior chamber or the lens, it produces 

 suppuration or traumatic cataract. 



Before anything can be done it is often necessary to render the 

 parts anaesthetic by instilling a few drops of cocaine solution into 

 the eye. 



The foreign body may then be discovered by close observation. 

 If the pain is very intense, and great resistance is offered to opening 

 the eye, the practitioner may confine himself to passing a soft camel- 

 hair brush saturated with cocaine solution over the surface of the 

 eye and into the conjunctival sacs. The brush loosens, and often 

 removes, the offending body. In the absence of a camel-hair brush, 

 the little finger, covered with a piece of fine linen, may be used. 



Where the parts cannot be touched owing to the resistance of the 

 animal, lukewarm solutions of antiseptics such as boric acid may be 

 occasionally injected into the eye by means of a syringe, but care 

 must be taken to prevent the animal injuring itself against the 

 syringe by sudden movements. 



