DISEASES 63 



Opthalmia is very often -an accompaniment of distemper. There i~ c::c form cf 

 disease which is attended with considerable discharge from the eye =5 undoubtedly 

 possessing contagious qualities. This affection is known as contagious cpihalmia. 

 Perhaps the most marked illustration of this variety of the affection in the do^ is 

 that which is associated with distemper, and it may be noted here that by tho term 

 opthalmia is meant the disease which implicates the eyeball itself. 



The symptoms are an intolerance of light and a watery discharge, and on 

 the eyelids being opened and examined there is seen to be congestion of the lining 

 membrane, and across the cornea, or front clear portion of the eye, there are red 

 streaks, and ulceration soon follows, and a white film obscures the eye and inter- 

 feres with the sight. 



More or less opacity of the cornea is one of the symptoms of opthalmia either 

 of the simple and contagious variety, and, in the case of the dog affected with the 

 ophthalmia of distemper, the indications are of a most marked character. The con- 

 juuctival membrane is highly injected and reddened, 'the cornea becomes opaque 

 early in the disease and very frequently a small spot of ulceration appears in the 

 center of it, which rapidly extends, and in many dases penetrates the cornea, 

 completely allowing the fluid in the anterior chamber of the eye to escape. A 

 profuse discharge of a purulent character continues during the whole course o* 

 the disease, and one of the annoying features of the complaint is the glueing 

 'together of the eyelids, which can only be separated by very careful and continued 

 fomentations of warm water or, what is better, warm milk. 



When treating, the cause should be first sought for, and if it is some foreign 

 irritating body, or an eyelash growing in a wrong direction, these should be re- 

 moved. A mild dose of cooling aperient medicine should be given, and the eye 

 should be well and frequently bathed with a decoction of poppy heads; and after- 

 ward, if the inflammation is considerable, one of the following lotions may be used 

 several times a day with advantage: 



Eye Lotions. (1) Extract of belladonna, half a dram, rose water, four ounces; 

 wine of opium, two drams mixed. When ulceration has taken place, or is going 

 on, use this lotion: (2) Sulpate of zinc, twelve grains; tincture of belladonna, one 

 dram; wine of opium, two drams; rose water, four ounces mixed. In place of 

 these lotions given which are no doubt good, as they are Dalziel's, I have used my 

 own in every case of eye trouble, and always with success. This will be called 

 EBERHART'S EYE LOTION No. 2: 





Acid boric 10 grains 



Cocaine 9 grains 



Zinc Sulphate 2 grains 



Aqua camphor 1 tablespoonf ul 



Aqua rosa 1 tablespoonful 



Drop in eye a few drops three or four times daily. 



If the disease is thought to be sympathetic with derangement of the digestive 

 organs, attend to the food by changing the diet, and in any case give light and 

 nutritious food. WJ.en the eye is very sensitive to light, the dog should be kept 

 in a shaded kennel and not exercised in the glare of the sun; but, especially in 

 weakly dogs, exercise is absolutely necessary to the general health, and so is light, 

 so that the place where the patient is kept, whilst shaded, must not be absolutely 

 dark. The kennel must be perfectly clean, and if disinfectants are needed, use 

 Standard or Sanitas. 



