DISEASES OF THE EYES. 241 



SUPERFICIAL INFLAMMATION OF THE EVE. SIMPLE 

 OPHTHALMIA. CONJUNCTIVITIS. 



Causes. — Blows with whips, etc., hay-seed, chaff, dust, lime, 

 thorns, etc., in the eye 3 standing in a current of cold airj 

 irritant emanations from dung and urine ; obstruction of the 

 lachrymal duct with swelling at the inner angle of the eye and 

 hardened mucus in the orifice of the duct as seen in the floor 

 of the chamber of the nose ; in horse and ox, the presence of a 

 worm— /liaria lachrymalis — inside the eyelids ; and in pigs of 

 the measle bladder- worm — cysticercus cellulosa — in the fat 

 around the eye. 



Symptoms. — Red, sore, watery eyes, with or without fever, 

 according to the severity of the attack, soon followed by a 

 bluish or white film or opacity extending no deeper than the 

 surface of the transparent part of the eyeball. The swelling of 

 the eyelids may extend to the hollow above the eye, filling it 

 up. There is no suffering or winking when brought into a 

 bright light, nor any undue contraction of the pupil as com- 

 pared with healthy eyes. If foreign bodies are present they 

 will be detected by examination. 



Treatment. — Hay-seed, chaff, etc., may be removed with a 

 pair of small forceps, with the point of a lead pencil, or with 

 the head of a pin covered with a soft handkerchief. Lime and 

 sand may be similarly removed or washed out with a fine 

 syringe. Thorns may be picked out with a needle, the animal 

 having been first thrown and the eye fixed with the fingers, or 

 by putting the patient under the influence of ether or chloro- 

 form. Or if not too deep they will slough out of their own 

 accord in a day or two. The patient must be protected from 

 cold or any other apparent cause of illness, should take a dose 

 of physic, and have the affected eye covered with a cloth con- 

 stantly wet with a solution of i dr. sugar of lead or sulphate of 

 zinc, 10 grains morphia, and i pint water. It is often best to 

 use it tepid, but if used cold it should be maintained so. 



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