CHAPTER XXXIV. 



DISEASES OF THE EYE AND SKIN. 



Sheep are not specially prone to diseases of the eye if we except 

 those eye blights which from time to time come over lamb flocks 

 and sometimes older sheep. Driving east winds and the effects 

 of summer dust when flocks make long journeys by road result in 

 common inflammation. 



CONJUNCTIVITIS . 



Inflammation of the membrane covering the eye causes pain 

 and lost time in grazing. 



Symptoms. Partially closed eyes, standing about and not 

 feeding, running of watery tears down the face, and similar over- 

 flow down the lachyrymal duct, and from the nostrils. At a later 

 stage the discharge thickens, and around the corners of the eye 

 matter dries in gummy form. If neglected, a white film is liable 

 to form, but it usually clears up after a time, and beyond the 

 annoyance of the early symptoms above described, the sheep 

 does not suffer, and can find and select its food if temporarily 

 blind. 



Treatment consists in placing the flock under more favourable 

 conditions as to wind and protection from the causes. Better 

 food and tonics are sometimes desirable, as a catarrh of a bad 

 type prevails in some seasons and reduces vitality and so checks 

 the development of the young and prejudices the ewe flock. 



EYE BLIGHT, INFECTIOUS. 



This appears to be due to a specific organism and spreads rapidly 

 among lambs of the previous spring. It comes in the late autumn 

 months, November being the most frequent month for its appear- 

 ance. Mild antiseptics such as two or three grains of sulphate 

 of zinc to each ounce of distilled water, dropped into the eyes 

 daily, have proved curative, and no doubt assist in clearing up 

 the clouded membrane. If this fails, a solution of nitrate of silver 

 of similar strength may be used. The first to be affected should 

 be removed, and a daily watch kept with a view to separation of 



