290 DISEASES OF HORSES AND CATTLE. 



stance out; a twitch should be put on the horse's 

 nose, or the finger and thumb on the ox's nose. 

 This will attract their attention. Hay-seed and 

 chaff are best removed by putting a piece of soft 

 silk or muslin on the end of a probe or stick and 

 gently pushing upwards and backwards, in this 

 way removing it. If any substance should be stick- 

 ing into the eye, it is best removed with the forceps. 

 After the cause is removed bathe the eye w T ith cold 

 water for ten or fifteen minutes three times a day, 

 then apply a little of the following after each bath- 

 ing: Acetate of lead, ten grains; tincture of opium, 

 ten drops; water, one and a half ounces; this is best 

 put in with a feather; use a clean feather each time. 

 The scum that forms over the cornea is not on the 

 outside of it, but an effusion between the coats of 

 the eye, caused by the inflammation, and usually 

 when the inflammation is subdued it passes away. 

 There is a practice which some have of blowing 

 burned alum into the eye; this is worse than use- 

 less, as it will tend to keep up the inflammation, 

 besides being very cruel to the animal. If it 

 should remain after the inflammation is all re- 

 duced apply a little of the following once a day 

 with a clean feather : Nitrate of silver, five grains ; 

 distilled water, one ounce; continue this for sev- 

 eral weeks if needed, as absorption sometimes 

 goes on very slowly in this case. 



Periodic Ophthalmia (Moon-Blindness). — This is 

 a very common disease of the eye in horses in some 

 parts of the country, especially in w r hat is termed 

 + ihe Mississippi valley. It is a constitutional dis- 



