CONJUNCTIVITIS. 543 



If the inflaiumation be due to external injury, the mark of 

 its seat will generally be distinguishable by the greater intensity 

 of the opacity immediately surrounding it. If it be due to 

 contusion of the eyelids, there may be no mark on the eye 

 itself, nor upon the eyelids ; but generally these may be seen 

 to present a spot of ecchymosis or congestion, if a careful 

 examination be made. 



The question of origin sometimes becomes a matter of impor- 

 tance, as a man's character might be at stake, the master perhaps 

 blaming his servant for striking the animal's eye and causing 

 the disease. In such instances the veterinarian is often appealed 

 to by both master and servant. 



Treatment. — If a foreign body is present in the eye, it must 

 be removed. Should it be a hay-seed or corn-chaff (a very 

 frequent cause of ophthalmia, more especially in cattle), and 

 adherent to the coats of the eye, the removal is often a matter 

 of some difficulty, requiring the use of the forceps or a strong 

 feather. The removal of the foreign body must be performed 

 quicldy, as the memhrana nictitans is brought into powerful 

 play by the rapid retractions of the eye-ball into the socket. 

 In such instances it will be found necessary to transfix the 

 memhrana nictitans with a needle and thread, or a strong 

 tenaculum, before the irritant can be removed. After the cause 

 is removed, but little treatment is required beyond fomentations 

 and exclusion of light. In the more severe cases it may be 

 necessary to reduce the congestion of the vessels by local 

 bleeding from the angular vein, situated on the face, immedip^tely 

 below the eye, or by scarifying the inner surface of the congested 

 eyelids. For my own part, I think the latter a bad practice, 

 and apt to increase the irritation, and I always bleed from the 

 " angular vein!' In addition to the bleeding, the eye should be 

 bathed with tepid water, or a decoction of poppy-heads, if the 

 pain seem urgent, and covered over with a light piece of calico, 

 properly adjusted over the ears, and fastened below the chin. 

 This is to be kept wet with a decoction of poppies, or some 

 lotion containing cocaine, and the parts bathed repeatedly 

 every day. 



Belladonna, applied in the form of a soft extract externally, 

 is very useful in all forms of ophthalmia. It keeps the pupil 

 dilated, and prevents adhesion of the iris to the lens. Bella- 



