PERIODIC OPHTHALMIA. 83 



character that pursues its course with rapidity, and in spite of 

 every thing in the shape of obstacle or remedy we may attempt to 

 oppose it with, and in the course of a single paroxysm, effects the 

 total destruction of the visual organ. 



The Intermission is ushered in by a disappearance of all signs 

 of inflammation, and a clearing up of the obscured parts of the eye, 

 with a more or less complete restoration of such of them as niay 

 have undergone any change in their aspect, to their former colour 

 and texture. For a considerable time, however, even after a first 

 attack, may be remarked, on closely inspecting the eye that has 

 suffered, more than usual pendulosity of the upper lid, a some- 

 what prominent haw, an appearance of gloom and sunkenness about 

 the globe of the eye, with evident irritability and unusual contrac- 

 tion of the pupil when the eye is faced to the light : and fortunate 

 altogether may it be considered for the animal should no more than 

 these slight imperfections remain, since, in time, providing no fresh 

 attack intervene, they may all be expected to disappear, and the 

 organ in the end to recover its wonted aspect and powers. So long, 

 however, as these sequelae do continue to exist, and particularly so 

 long as there remains any turbidness of parts which ought to be 

 transparent, the horse will be found to have acquired an air of ap- 

 prehension and suspicion not at all natural to him : he will be 

 techy when any thing is done to his head, and especially when it is 

 handled on the side of his affected eye ; and this will subside only 

 on the return to health of the eye itself. And fortunate would it 

 be for the animal if this return to healthfulness could be reckoned 

 upon as permanent : alas ! the account we feel ourselves in duty 

 bound to give his master is, that, after an intermission varying from 

 one to several months in duration, he may expect a relapse of 

 the same disease, and in the other eye, probably. I have noted, 

 after primary attacks, intermissions of three weeks, six weeks, 

 and three months ; and in one case the disease did not return until 

 the seventeenth month : it has, however, relapsed in almost all the 

 intervening periods. 



But one Eye at a time, generally speaking, is attacked. I 

 have seen instances of both eyes suffering simultaneously ; but I 

 find, on reckoning my cases, that they bear a proportion of no 



