120 TlIK I'RACTICE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. 



nit. grs. v., aquae 5!. ; hot and cold applications externally, 

 potass, iodi. internally, etc. 



Worm in the Eye. — Worm in the eye is of very rare 

 occurrence on the American continent, but is very common 

 in India, and occurs most frequently in low-lying, swampy 

 situations, or in the neighbourhood of stagnant water. 

 Two kinds of worms have been noticed inhabiting the eye, 

 the 'filaria oculi ' and the ' strongylus equinus.' The 

 parasites vary from half an inch to about two inches in 

 length, and reach the eye by means of the circulation, being 

 first taken into the stomach of the animal along with the 

 water he drinks, either as fully developed parasites or as ova 

 — most probably the latter. After reaching the eye, the 

 parasite develops and grows very rapidly. 



Symptoms. — Worm in the eye is easily diagnosed, the 

 symptoms being very plain. When the trouble has reached 

 a certain stage, or the worm has attained a certain size, it 

 begins to move about, and sets up considerable irritation. 

 The first symptom noticed, as a rule, by the owner or atten- 

 dant of the horse, is a haziness of the eye and a slight flow of 

 tears. This leads to an examination, when he fancies he 

 can see something like a thread in the eye. It moves about 

 through the aqueous humour very quickly, in a manner 

 likened to the movements of an eel in a basin of water, 

 first in the anterior chamber, then in the posterior chamber, 

 coming and going from the sight very quickly. If allowed 

 to remain for any length of time and attain a complete state 

 of development, loss of vision will usually result ; although 

 there are a few cases on record in which the worm died 

 and became absorbed. The irritation increases if the worm 

 is not removed, more or less opacity of the cornea is soon 

 observed, and the animal at times shows that he is in con- 

 siderable pain. 



■ Treatment. — The only method by which the worm can be 

 removed from the eye is by means of a surgical operation, 



