558 DISEASES OF THE EYES. 



including even tlie vitreous humour, so cemented together that 

 scarcely a vestige of the original appearance of the eye is dis- 

 cernible. These instances are, however, rare, and mark the 

 severity of the inflammation ; the majority of cases being of a 

 much milder type, recurring and finally ending in cataract, ossi- 

 fication of the choroid, retina, and the whole contents of the 

 chambers. 



The late Professor Coleman, from very extensive observations 

 made at a time when this disease was exceedingly prevalent, 

 arrived at the conclusion that the affection resulted from the 

 same conditions as those which engendered glanders and farcy, 

 namely, contaminated atmosphere, resulting from ill-paved, ill- 

 drained, unventilated stables ; and Mr. Percivall, in discussing 

 the subject, after adducing evidence that mules and asses were 

 quite as subject as horses to ophthalmia during the Peninsular 

 war, says — " Shall we say, by way of a summary rationale, that 

 the effluvia arising from the breath, perspiration, urine, dung, 

 &c., generate an animal poison, and that this, being in a gaseous 

 form, is diffused through the atmosphere of the stable, and with 

 it carried into the system through the medium of the air-pas- 

 sages, skin, or alimentary canal — most likely by the first, but 

 possibly by one of them — wherein it breeds disease in 

 the circulating fluids, which breaks out, under a local form, in 

 the lungs, skin, nose, eyes, &c. ? Or shall we say that these parts 

 are affected locally in the first instance, and subsequently con- 

 taminate the system ? Let us postpone the consideration of an 

 answer until we come to include glanders in the same family of 

 poisonous influences." Professor Coleman adduces as proofs that 

 it is not a local affection : — " 1st. The constitutional derange- 

 ment, which he says may often be traced to the digestive organs 

 and skin, and is in some respects unlike simple irritative disor- 

 der; 2d. The character of the inflammation, which is neither 

 so acute nor so rapidly progressive as simple ophthalmia often 

 is, and yet the one readily yields to proper treatment, whilst the 

 other obstinately continues its course ; od. The eye may be 

 locally exposed to volatile ammonia, or any animal effluvium we 

 can obtain by artificial means, and no such effect will be pro- 

 duced." — (Percivall's Lectures on the Veterinary Art) 



I have nothing to suggest with regard to successful treatment. 

 The disease is incurable, and has baffled the eftbrts of all who 



