CEstrum] ^OI [Ophthalmia 



water for ten minutes ; then strain. Sometimes 

 the application of an ice-bag gives more relief 

 than the hot application. 



OEstrum, or the period of menstruation of the 

 bitch, generally appears for the first time when 

 the bitch is about eight or nine months old. 

 With some foreign breeds, as in chows par- 

 ticularly, it often occurs for the first time sooner, 

 even when the bitch is five or six months old. 

 Occasionally, with very small bitches, the first 

 heat may not appear until she is a year old. 

 Once the period has commenced, it generally 

 occurs regularly twice a year, but in a few 

 exceptional cases every three or four months. 

 The heat generally lasts from three to four weeks 

 — that is, right from the commencement until the 

 end. 



The condition is recognised by the external 

 parts — vulva — swelling, and a slight mucus dis- 

 charge, which continues for about a week ; then 

 the discharge is pinkish, and after a few days 

 blood-coloured. This latter condition continues 

 for about eight or nine days, to be followed by 

 a mucus discharge again, until the heat has 

 ceased, when the parts have assumed their 

 normal size. 



Ophthalmia : 



Symptoms : Generally both eyes are affected, 

 the membrane (conjunctival) is intensely in- 

 flamed, and there is a good deal of purulent 

 discharge. There is intolerance to light, and 

 as a consequence, the lids are kept partly, if 

 not quite, closed. 



