66 DADD'S VETERINARY MEDICINE AND SURGERY. 



lids must, however, be previously cleansed with lukewarm wattr 

 The patient should have a few doses of fluid extract of poke-root. 

 About half an ounce of the extract, night and morning, will suffice, 

 wnich will act as an alterative. 



Specific Ophthalmia. 



This form of disease affects animals periodically, and is deperd 

 ent on some peculiar predisposition; hence it may be termed 

 hereditary. 



Symptoms. — There usually comes on very suddenly, per naps iu 

 a single night, a great tenderness in one eye, commonly marked by 

 the eyelids being shut, a copious secretion of tears, the white of the 

 eye appearing slightly red, and the whole anterior chamber of the 

 eye dim and clouded, there being no distinct speck on the cornci, 

 as takes place in the common inflammation of the eye. The re(\- 

 ness of the eyeball is never very remarkable, even thougli tie 

 disease assumes its most aggravated form; but the dimness of tl e 

 anterior chamber increases rapidly, and in two or three days, «<r 

 even a shorter period, a yellow spot appears at the bottom of th;vt 

 cavity, arising from the formation of pus. Sometimes the quantity 

 of pus is very considerable, and I have seen it fill at least tw(<- 

 thirds of the anterior chamber. After lasting one, two, or three 

 weeks, the inflammation and watering usually begin gradually Ic 

 subside. The pus, though in very large quantity, is grmietiracs 

 almost entirely absorbed, so that scarcely any vestige is to be seen ; 

 and iu other instances thin webs of opaque matter remain, \\1h( h 

 destroy the transparency and luster of the eye, and which, by fheir 

 adhesion to the edges of the pupil, interfere with its motions and 

 destroy its form. 



It is astonishing how acute dealers in horses are in discovering 

 an eye which has had an attack of this kind. 



Sooner or later, while the horse appears in a state of perfect 

 health, the eye is again attacked, the disease being acconiiianied by 

 the same sym])toms, making a similar ])rogress, and having the 

 same termination, while each new attack is accompanied with the 

 deposition of more and more opaque matter. These attacks suc- 

 ceed each otlier at very difi^ereut, and sometimes at very distant, 

 intervals, until the whole pupil is filled with an opaque white 

 aiatter, and the sight of the eye completely destroyed. 



