544 DISEASES OF THE EYES. 



donna and liyoscyamus have tlie same effect, but the belladonna 

 is the stronger, and is best applied, particularly if there be 

 much irritation, to the eyebrows and outside of the eyelids, 

 in the form of a paste of the consistency of honey. Should 

 it, however, be deemed desirable to apply the active principle, 

 atropliine, the following solution may be dropped into the 

 eye:— 



R. Atropliioe sulphat., gr. iv. ; aqua distil. | i. 



A purgative is to be administered, and followed by febrifuges 

 and diuretics. 



The film that spreads over the anterior aspect of the eye 

 consists of an exudate, which continues so long as the irritation 

 lasts, but afterwards gradually disappears by absorption. Many 

 tliink that it is necessary to destroy it by caustics, as if it 

 were an outer skin which had grown over the eye. Tliis is a 

 mistake ; the deposit is witliin the structures of the cornea and 

 conjunctiva, and until the inflammation has subsided, all irritat- 

 ing applications are calculated to do harm. 



In simple ophthalmia, resulting from an injury to the cornea, 

 the opacity radiates from the neat of injury, wliilst in catarrhal 

 inflammation of the eyes the opacity converges inwards from 

 the margin of the cornea. This form of 023hthalmia is most 

 frequently met with in connection with an ejDizootic disease 

 which has been termed "'' pink-eye " by horsey individuals. It 

 is an epizootic inflammation of the areolar tissue, and I have 

 named it Epizootic Celluhtis, partaking of the nature of rheuma- 

 tism, and the ophthalmic complication is in all probabihty due 

 to the presence of the rheumatic poison. 



The ox, sheep, and dog are subject to superficial conjunctivitis 

 from cold or other causes, the dog especially, as a comphcation 

 with " distemper." 



In all these animals, as well as in the horse, the treatment 

 is first to subdue inflammatory action by soothing remedies; 

 and, secondly, to restore the tone of the vessels by applying 

 very mild astringent washes, as the sulphate of zinc, alum, &c., 

 in water, and to avoid exposing the eye to strong light until 

 it is thoroughly restored. 



NEBULA — ALBUGO. 



A partial opacity remains after the removal of the general 



