SPECIFIC, OE PEKIODIC OPHTHALMIA. 995 



the patient becomes affected constitutionally; the circulation is 

 increased, the mouth hot, and the appetite impaired. These symp- 

 toms may continue for several days, and then gradually disap- 

 pear, or they may be prolonged for weeks, and end only with the 

 destruction of the eye. A prominent and well-marked symptom 

 of this disease is its shifting from one eye to the other; in many 

 cases, one eye has no sooner recovered than the other becomes af- 

 fected. At other times, recovery is rapid, and to all appearances 

 the eye looks per- 

 fectly healthy ; 

 in a short time, 

 however, the dis- 

 ease returns, and 

 often with in- 

 creased severity. 

 These occur- 

 rences o r shift- 

 ings take place 

 in from three 

 weeks to a month 

 or more. As the 

 disease advances 

 still farther, the 

 eye begins to 

 clear, the cornea 



becoming trans- FlG ' 859. -Inflammation of optic nerve. 



parent leaving a a ' ^* a P^ a * *^ e optic nerve conjested; &, Enlarged 

 Y i i -ji- veins, connected by exhudation round the papilla ; e, rather 



diminished arteries. 



in the anterior 



part (chamber) of the eye; the pupil diminishes in size, and the 

 disease gradually terminates in more or less opacity of the chrys- 

 talline lens or its capsule, constituting cataract. 



Treatment. As a general rule, the treatment of specific 

 ophthalmia is very unsatisfactory, but still medicinal remedies are 

 found beneficial in palliating the disease. The horse should be 

 placed in a comfortable and darkened loose-box, with a plentiful 

 supply of pure air. A brisk dose of purgative medicine should be 

 administered, and if much constitutional fever is present, ten 

 drops of the tincture of aconite should be given every three hours, 



