INFLAMMATION OF THE CONJUNCTIVA 401 



this tumor not only originates from follicular conjunctivitis, but from 

 traumatic causes and neoformations such as adenomas of Harder's gland, 

 lipomas or papillomas. A prolapse of the membrane without any hyper- 

 trophy is seen frequentl}' in St. Bernards, retrievers and mastiffs, when 

 the enlarged membrane lying over the eye gives the animal a sleepy look- 

 ing eye, or ''dead eye" (see Fig. 138). 



Treatment. — Astringent washes of boracic acid, zinc, lead, etc., may 

 reduce this irritation, but, as a rule, if this hypertrophic condition of the 

 membrana nictitans is once established, removal of it by surgical means 

 is the only way to establish a permanent cure. The eye is first treated 

 by a few drops of 4 per cent, solution of cocaine, and then the enlarge- 

 ment is seized by a pair of forceps and by means of curved scissors 

 clipped off (Fig. 139). Putting a thread through the tumor by means 

 of a curved needle enables the operator to make a much evener removal 

 of the tumor and is preferred to holding it with forceps by some operators. 

 The hemorrhage is insignificant and is controlled in a few minutes. If 

 it should persist for some time, put a few drops of acetate of lead solu- 

 tion on the eye and keep the lid closed for a few moments by means 

 of a pledget of cotton. 



DISEASES OF THE CONJUNCTIVA. 



Inflammation of the Conjunctiva — Conjunctivitis. 



{Co nj uncti vitis; Sy ndcs »! it is . ) 



Inflammatory conditions of the conjunctiva are the most frequent 

 affections of the eye in the dog, and appear in various ways according 

 to their cause. Under ordinary circumstances we see the development 

 of a simple catarrh of the conjunctiva, which, like all catarrhs of the 

 mucous membrane, causes swelling, great redness, and formation of loose 

 folds of tissue. The redness may vary from a slight injection to a dark 

 or bluish-red coloration. This is, as a rule, regular and rarely spotted 

 with blood extravasations. The secretion of the mucous membrane is 

 sero-mucous in the beginning, but later on becomes muco-purulent, and 

 in some cases there is a peculiar grayish secretion. This secretion becomes 

 agglutinated to the interstices and corners of the eyelids, producing a 

 gluing together of the lashes, and during the night, when the animal is 

 asleep, it dries up, forming a grayish-yellow adhesive mass. The inflam- 

 mation is usually restricted to the conjunctiva of the lid, the transition 

 fold and the bulb of the conjunctiva being very rarely affected. The 

 follicles of the connective tissue are generally swollen in all prolonged 

 forms of catarrh of the eyes. Sometimes they protrude here and there 



