SPECIFIC OR PERIODICAL OPHTHALMIA. 503 



In England, where stabling and fodder are much studied, 

 the disease is rare. In Ireland, where horses are thought 

 to be well housed, so they can stand and feed on what 

 they can get, specific ophthalmia, and its effects, are still 

 an every-day occurrence. 



Treatment. ~Jt is not in general found difficult to remove 

 the immediate attack ; but from the specific nature of, 

 and the connexion the disease has with the constitution at 

 large, as before insisted on, it proves extremely difficult to 

 prevent the recurrence. In this particular it resembles 

 scrofula in the human being ; and it is only a proof of the 

 fatal blindness of practitioners, that after all their endea- 

 vours have rather aggravated than ameliorated the dis- 

 order, a total change of practice never occurred to them. 

 Many recommend four large blood-lettings, purgatives, diu- 

 retics, sedatives, setons, and blisters ; and have even not 

 scrupled to propose the putting out of an eye, to stay the 

 ravage which they had no art to stop. When the animal 

 is first attacked, fasten a piece of tape to the head stall, 

 that it may slant across the face ; but above the eye, and 

 on this line, hang a portion of soft rag several times dou- 

 bled, so that it may fall over the affected organ, which it 

 ought entirely to cover. Have the rag kept wet with 

 hot or cold applications, according as either seems to 

 be agreeable to the animal. If hot, break up some poppy 

 heads, and boil one dozen in two quarts of water for four 

 hours, repeatedly filling up the saucepan as the liquor is 

 reduced. Afterwards, press and strain. Then add water 

 to make up the quantity, if any be deficient. Let it stand 

 till the sediment has settled, when decant with care, and 

 warm as required. Should cold be preferred, add one ounce 

 of laudanum to a quart of spring water, and keep the rag 

 wet with the mixture. 



The food should all be boiled, and of the most supporting 

 kind. Roots of all kinds, malt, oats, ground beans, clover 

 hay, linseed, &c. &c. This will probably sufficiently open 

 the bowels, but should it not, avoid giving more than one 

 drachm of aloes night and morning ; and even continue 

 this quantity no further than is imperative to render the 

 bowels soft, yet by no means to induce watery stools. 



With regard to physic, any thing administered must be 



