THEIR PATHOLOGY, DIAGNOSIS, AND TREATMENT. 65 



of variable extent ; it is generally caused by exposure to sudden changes 

 of weather. For fuller particulars see Surfeit, 



Ophthalmia, or Inflammation of the Eye.— This is either simple 

 and temporary, or specific and chronic — in the one instance a local affec- 

 tion only, in the other it becomes constitutional, affecting the whole 

 system. Simple inflammation of the eye is either the result of an accident 

 occurring to the horse in play or from some foreign body, as a speck of 

 dust or a hay seed from the rack lodging in the eye, or, as is too frequently 

 the case, from the lash of the whip cruelly applied to such a sensitive 

 organ, or it may be the result of a cold. When a fly, dirt, or any irritating 

 substance lodges in the eye, it causes tears to flow, which, as it were, 

 wash it downwards. The lachrymal gland being situated at the top corner 

 of the eye, the hard or third eyelid being projected by the same excite- 

 ment of the parts, produced by the pain, scoops up the offending particle, 

 and, the cause being removed, the effect ceases ; but in the case of a hay 

 seed, for instance, the hard, sharp point may have stuck fast, and prove 

 too obstinate to be removed by the means Nature has provided, when 

 man's help is called for, and it may be necessary to extract the seed by 

 means of small tweezers or the point of a penknife. Where the irritation 

 has been so great as to produce much inflammation, and when it is the 

 result of colds, or a blow or lash, it may be necessary to give a dose of 

 physic and l|oz. of sweet spirit of nitre, with loz. of laudanum as 

 a drench in a quart of gruel ; but generally speaking a lighter diet than 

 usual, consisting of mashes, steamed corn gruel made with hay, and the 

 addition of carrots, or clover, or vetches, when obtainable, will obviate 

 the use of medicine, which is always to be avoided when it can be done 

 without. One of the following lotions should be very freely used to the 

 eye affected, and to both where, as is often the case, the other shows 

 sympathetic inflammation : 



Eye Lotions. — Take sulphate of zinc 2 scruples, laudanum |oz., water 

 8oz., mix; or take a dozen poppy heads of fair size, crush them and 

 boil slowly for twenty minutes ; strain the decoction, add to it ioz. of 

 Goulard's extract of lead, previously mixed with ioz. of spirit of wine, 

 add soft water to make the whole 1 quart. 



Having placed a folded linen cloth across both eyes, keep it constantly 

 well wetted with the above. 



Specific Ophthalmia is much more difficult to manage, and it is more 

 direful in its results, generally ending, sooner or later, with the loss of 

 one or both eyes. It comes on much in the same way as simple inflamma- 

 tion, only all the symptoms are more pronounced, especially the intolerance 

 of light, which is present in both diseases ; and, in addition, there is a 



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