DISEASES OF THE EYE. 343 



constitutional disturbance, it becomes advisable to administer 1 

 pound of Epsom salt dissolved in 1 quart of water. 



INFECTIOUS CATARRHAL CONJUNCTIVITIS (SPECIFIC 

 OPHTHALMIA). 



This generally appears in an enzootic or epizootic form and affects 

 a considerable number in the herd. It is distinctly a contagious 

 disease and may be brought into a previously healthy herd by one 

 infected animal. It may continue in a herd for a season or for 

 several years, affecting all newly purchased animals. It is seldom 

 seen in the winter months. It affects old and young animals alike. 



Symptoms. — This form of catarrh conjunctivitis is characterized 

 chiefly by a mucopurulent discharge from the eyes, an intense degree 

 of inflammation of the mucous membrane, accompanied with swell- 

 ing of the eyelids and an early opacity of the cornea. The flow of 

 tears is mixed with pus, sometimes streaked with blood, and the skin 

 of the face is kept moist and soiled. The eyes are kept continually 

 closed. The implication of the cornea in the disease frequently 

 blinds the animal for a time, and occasionally suppurative keratitis, 

 ulcers of the cornea, or staphyloma supervene. The attack is marked 

 from the onset by fever, partial loss of appetite, partial loss of milk, 

 suspended rumination, and separation from the herd. 



Treatment. — The animal should be housed in a cool, dark stable, 

 supplied with plenty of fresh water to drink and soft, succulent feed. 

 Administer 1 pound of Epsom salt — if a very large animal, use 1^ 

 pounds — dissolved in 2 or 3 pints of water. For an eyewash, take 

 boracic acid, 1 dram, and pour 4 ounces of boiling water over it. 

 Use this as often as is convenient, applying it directly to the eye. In 

 the majority of cases improvement becomes manifest in a few days, 

 and the eye becomes clear and free from inflammation in 10 days 

 or 2 weeks. 'VMiere the disease develops ulceration of the cornea, or 

 well-marked, deep-seated keratitis, the treatment recommended for 

 those conditions should be adopted. 



Prevention. — Whenever this affection appears in a herd all the 

 unaffected animals should be moved to fields which possess a different 

 character of soil and feed. The water should also be changed, espe- 

 cially if they have been obtaining it from a stagnant pond. 



KERATITIS (CORNEITIS). 



This is an inflammation of the cornea proper, although the sclerotic 

 at the corneal border becomes invohed to some extent. It may be 

 divided into diffuse and suppurative. 



Causes. — The cornea 'constitutes the most prominent portion of the 

 eyeball, hence it is subject to a variety of injuries — scratches, pricks, 



