IKTLAMMATION.] MODERN VETEEI 



change, when bliiulnesa ensues. This periodi- 

 cal oplithalmia «jenerally ceases when one or 

 both of the eyes go out, although, at first sight, 

 one cannot tell how tho constitution has been 

 afiectetl by the loss of this organ, or seo a 

 reason why the inflaniniation sliould not recur 

 at intervals. 



Tho disease may also arise from tho effects 

 of purging ; but this only causes tho constitu- 

 tional tendency to tho disease being brouglit 

 into effect, producing debility from the medi- 

 cine becoming tho exciting cause. The disease 

 then is constitutional, and requires effectual 

 remedial measures to be adopted. Take of 



Bhie Pill 12 drachms. 



Opium 2 do. 



Linseed Meal 1 oz. 



Form into a mass with soft soap, 



and divide into six balls. Give one every 

 second morning fasting. Or, take of 



Sulphate of Copper .... 12 drachms. 

 Or, of 



Sulphate of Iron 12 drachms. 



Form either of these into a mass with 

 linseed meal and soap, and divide into six 

 balls, and give one every morning about eleven 

 o'clock. These two last are 3trengthenit>^, 

 and when the disease arises from debility, will 

 be found of essential service. Bleeding gene- 

 rally, according to the strength of the animal, 

 should not be omitted, as it will relieve it in 

 all its stages, though not eventually cure it. 

 A good lotion may be composed of 



Common Salt, -^ table-spoonful and a-half. 

 Spring Water, as much as will fill a wine-bottle. 



Bathe the eyes several times in the day with 

 this ; or, take either of the lotions prescribed 

 for blows in the eye. 



The insertion of setons between the jaws have 

 done good for a time ; and considerable benefit 

 has arisen from the following prescription — 



Tartar Emetic 1 drachm. 



Hog's Lard 1 oz. 



Form into an Ointment. 



Eub a little on the side of the horse's cheek, 

 and also underneatii the eye, until small 

 pimples appear. Great care must be taken 

 to prevent its going into the eyes. 



For simple ophthalmia, local and general 

 bleeding and physic are adviaed. Warm fo- 



NAET PRACTICE. 



[CATAttACT. 



mentations should bo at first uHcd, and tho fol- 

 lowing lotion applied six or eight tirne.i a day : 



Cold Water i ,,i„t. 



Tincture of Opium. , . , . . 1 oz. 



When the inflammation has abated, but a film 

 is still leit on the cornea, apply with a cainel'H 

 hair brush, twice a day, a few drops of tho iui- 

 lowincr : 



Distilled Water 

 Nitrate of Silver 



1 oz. 



1 or 2 grains. 



The horse should be kept in a cool and clean 

 stable, where there arc no offensive exhalations 

 from manure. 



Mr. Peall relates an experiment which ho 

 made on a horse affected with ophthalmia. " I 

 have ordered him," he says, " to be removed 

 from the stable, where I observed he kept 

 both eyes shut, into the open air, or to a very 

 cool situation, and have watched the effects of 

 the change. In the course of half-an-hour I 

 have commonly found him begin to open his 

 eyes gradually ; and in the course of two or 

 three hours, to keep them open boldly, and lor 

 a continuance, even though the situation he 

 was placed in was not darkened or shady ; for 

 it cannot be denied that strong light is very 

 prejudicial in such cases. Now to prove that 

 the stimulus of the volatile alkali — the vapours 

 of foul litter — was more offensive to the in- 

 flamed organ than that of light, I have placed 

 the animal again in a hot stable, which did not 

 admit much light, and, in the course of a few 

 minutes, have observed him begin to close his 

 eyes gradually, and, after an hour or two, to 

 keep them constantly shut. Not satisfied, 

 however, with this, I have removed the horse 

 back again to a cool situation, and have ob- 

 served the same effects to be produced as have 

 been already detailed." 



CATARACT. 



Tho common termination of the foregoing 

 disease is cataract; which is inflammation in 

 tho capsule of the lens with opacity. The 

 opacity invariably begins in the centre, from 

 its being the hardest, and having less of living 

 power, so that the circulation becomes more 

 easily aflected. There being no simple cataract 

 in the horse, many appearances of the lena 

 take place when the eye is affected by the dis- 

 ease. In some, a general determination of 



205 



