DISEASES OF HORSES AND CATTLE. 



289 



CHAPTER XXIII. 



DISEASES OF THE EYE. 



Simple Ophthalmia (Conjunctivitis).— This is an 

 inflammation of the superficial structures of the 



eye. 



Causes: Colds, injuries, bites from insects, the 

 lodgment of chaff or other foreign bodies, and from 



"pink-eye." 



Symptoms: The eyelid will be closed or partial- 

 ly so from the swelling; there will be an increase 

 in the secretion of tears, which will run down the 

 cheeks, scalding them, and in a short time the hair 

 will drop out where the tears pass over; the eye- 

 ball will be drawn back and the membrana nicti- 

 tans (the haw) partially covering the eye. The lin- 

 ing membrane of the eyelids is red and swollen, 

 and in bad cases it will protrude between the lids. 

 In the course of a day or two if it is not attended to 

 there will be a whitish scum form over the eye. If 

 it is caused by an injury there will usually be found 

 a mark or a depression on the ball. If from chaff 

 or other substances it can be readily seen! 



Treatment: Carefully examine the eye to find 

 the cause; if it is a hay-seed or chaff or other body 

 it must be removed. This is usually difficult, as 

 the horse or ox will force the haw over the eye and 

 thus prevent you from getting the foreign sub- 



