SPECIFIC, OE PEEIODIC OPHTHALMIA. 



995 



tliG patient becomes affected constitutionally; the circulation is 

 increased, the mouth hot, and the appetite impaired. These symp- 

 toms may continue for several days, and then gradually disap- 

 pear, or they may be prolonged for weeks, and ead only with the 

 destruction of the eye. A prominent and well-marked symptom 

 of this disease is its shifting from one eye to the other; in many 

 cases, one eye has no sooner recovered than the other becomes af- 

 fected. At other times, recovery is rapid, and to all appearances 

 the eye looks per- 

 fectly healthy ; 

 in a short time, 

 however, the dis- 

 ease returns, and 

 often with in- 

 creased severity. 

 These occur- 

 rences or shift- 

 ings take place 

 in from three 

 weeks to a month 

 or more. As the 

 disease advances 

 still farther, the 

 eye begins to 

 clear, the cornea 

 becoming trans- 

 parent, leaving a 

 slight muddiness 

 in 



Fig. 859. — Inflammation of optic nerve. 



a, Papilla of the optic nerve conjested; 6, Enlarged 

 veins, connected by exhudation round the papilla; c, rather 

 diminished arteries. 



the anterior 



part (chamber) of the eye; the pupil diminishes in size, and the 

 disease gradually terminates in more or less opacity of the chrys- 

 talline lens or its capsule, constituting cataract. 



Treatment. — As a general rule, the treatment of specific 

 ophthalmia is very unsatisfactory, but still medicinal remedies are 

 found beneficial in palliating the disease. The horse should be 

 placed in a comfortable and darkened loose-box, Avith a plentiful 

 supply of pure air. .A brisk dose of purgative medicine should be 

 administered, and if much constitutional fever is present, ten 

 drops of the tincture of aconite should be given every three hours, 



