260 DISEASES OF TDE HORSE. 



CHAP. XL VII. 



DISEASES OF THE EYE.— OPHTHALMIA, SIMPLE AND SPECIFIC, 

 CATARACT. AMAUROSIS. 



[The eye of the horse Is exceedingly liable to disease — quite 

 as much, if not more so, than the human eye ; but, unlike it, 

 these diseases are by no means subject to such great variety, but 

 may be comprehended by a few divisions. We have, then, 

 simple ophthalmia, specific ophthalmia, cataract, and amaurosis 

 or pai-alysis of the optic nerve. 



Simple Ophthalmia. 



This disease arises from some external injury, such as a blow 

 from a stick or whip, a bite from another horse, or the intrusion 

 of some foreign body. It is important to distinguish this dis- 

 ease from that we have presently to notice, which may be done 

 without much difficulty, by an attention to the following symp- 

 toms. Unless the injury is very trifling, there is usually much 

 swelling and inflammation of the eyelids and its envelopments. 

 Shortly afterwards we find an opacity of the transparent cornea ; 

 this opacity rarely spreads over the whole of the eye, but is 

 much greater at one part than another. On inspecting the eye 

 in a lateral position, we find that the aqueous humour is either 

 not atfected, or only partially so; and on looking into the 

 interior of the eye, we find the parts presenting a healthy ap- 

 pearance. 



Treatment. — It is very important to be prompt and energetic 

 in our treatment ; for otherwise there is great danger of the 

 opacity increasing and involving the whole of the cornea, so as 

 to occasion blindness, or otherwise to be permanently fixed in 

 one part, so as to obstruct vision and defy all our attempts for its 

 removal. AVhen the inflammation is considerable we should 

 lance the inflamed vessels of the eyelid, and encourage the bleed- 

 ing as much as possible, and at the same time open the angular 

 vein which passes from the eye down the face. In performing 

 this operation it is necessary to cut in some measure across the 

 vein, in order to ensure its bleeding freely. If the blood should 

 not flow freely, it will be better to bleed from the neck at the 

 same time. The eye should be frequently fomented with warm 

 water the first day, and afterwards the following lotion should be 

 applied round and in the eye six or eight times a day : — 



Cold water 1 pint. 



Tincture of opium 1 ounce. 



