404 DISEASES OF THE EYES 



there is sensitiveness to light, and jDhotopholjia, the animal constantly 

 winking or convulsively closing the eye. The secretion of the eye is 

 changed into a muco-purulent mass, becoming filled with a thick, 

 yellowish-green fluid mixed with pus, which agglutinates the lids, partic- 

 ularly during the night, when the animal is asleep, and there is great 

 itching and irritation causing the animal to rub the eyes continually 

 with his paws, and in this condition complications of the cornea are 

 generally present. The latter becomes cUdl in the centre, showing ero- 

 sions in some cases. This capacity of the cornea gradually increases, 

 becoming darker, more opaque, and then taking a yellowish-gray colora- 

 tion. We may see in some cases, ulceration of the cornea (see Keratitis). 

 A common occurrence is to find eczema of the eyelid and the skin around 

 the eye. 



This blennorrhoea of the conjunctiva is a rare and dangerous disease, 

 causing extensive inflammation and ulceration of the cornea, the con- 

 dition being prolonged in some cases from four to eight weeks, and in 

 extremely bad cases the eye is apt to be destroyed. 



Therapeutic Treatment of Conjunctivitis. — If the disease is produced 

 by foreign bodies, an eruption, etc., or caused by trichiasis or entropion, 

 we have to remove the cause first. If we have to deal with dirt, coal 

 dust, or small bodies, it is sufficient to wash out the eye with a little soft- 

 rubber syringe. If the bodies are adherent, such as iron fragments, 

 sand, etc., accompanied by convulsive movements of the lids and intense 

 secretion of tears, we must apply a certain amount 4 per cent, solution 

 of cocaine to the eye, remove the foreign bodies, or wipe them off by 

 means of a blunt probe or sound covered by a handkerchief or cotton. 

 Then keep the animal away from strong light, smoke, etc. 



First, foment the eye thoroughly with boracic acid solution, and to 

 thoroughly clean the eye the membrana nictitans must be lifted, as that 

 membrane is pulled down close on the eye as soon as the fomentation is 

 started; the eye must, however, always be cocained previous to doing 

 this, as the membrane is too sensitive to do it otherwise. The cocaine 

 solution can be applied by means of an atomizer. 



I^. Cocaine muriate, 0.25 



Aqua distil, 5.0 



Sig. — A few drops in the ej'e. 



I^. Acoin, 0.1 



Aqua distil, 10.0 



Sig. — A few drops in the eye. 



In catarrhal conjunctivitis we must use astringents, such as sulphate 

 of zinc, sulphate of copper, or nitrate of silver. These solutions must 

 be used mild, such as 0.2 to 0.75 per cent. They may be applied by 

 means of a camel's hair pencil or atomizer put between the lids and 



