46 dadd's veteb.inary medicine and surgery. 



Ophthalmia, or Inflammation of, the Eye, 



(Sometimes called "Hooks.") 



This is a very common affection, yet a most painful one, an. 

 ean not well be mistaken. The animal keeps the eyelids closed. 

 Tney are more or less swollen, and the internal surface of the same 

 appears very red. There is an unnatural flow of teara running 

 down the cheeks. The haw, or nictitating membrane, is swollen 

 and very vascular. This condition of the haw is known to some 

 persons as the hooks, and serves as an excuse for the performance 

 of a barbarous operation, not sanctioned by science or common 

 sense, viz. : amputation of the haw, which only aggravates the 

 disease, and deprives the horse of a useful appendage to the organs 

 of vision. 



In the early stage of this disease, and when scalding tears run 

 copiously over the cheeks, we denominate it catarrhal ophthalmia. 

 The disease is not of a very serious nature, but often becomes so 

 in consequence of the outrageous treatment practiced, such as 

 bleeding, purging, and the local application of lunar caustic. 

 The proper mode of treatment is to keep the patient on a light 

 diet, and occasionally bathe the region of the eye with an infusion 

 of poppies or hops ; sometimes with tepid or cold water, as the ca?e 

 may seem to indicate, according to the rational judgment of the 

 owner of the afflicted animal. It is the very best application ths t 

 can be made, and is much more scientific, according to the dictum 

 of the God of Nature, than many of the agents heretofore used. 

 The fact is, many indications of disease designated as inflamma- 

 tion are curable only through the intervention of time and a 

 rational expectancy. Don't do any violence to nature in the 

 use of destructive or poisonous agents, and should the case b« 

 curable, it will terminate favorably under this treatment. Ac- 

 cording to the dictum of the schools of veterinary medicine, 

 inflammation of the eye, as well as inflammatory action of other 

 parts of the body, has to be treated heroically, which system of 

 treatment kills more than it ever cures. As the subject of inflam- 

 mation is a very important one, worthy the attention and con- 

 sideration of American husbandmen, I here introduce an artick 

 from the pen of A. S. Copeman, who was formerly associated 

 with me in conducting the "Veterinary Institute of Boston," 

 Massachusetts : 



