358 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



due to the extension of catarrhal conjunctivitis or intraocular dis- 

 ease, and it may occasionallj^ occur without any perceptible cause. 



Symptoms. — Diffuse keratitis is characterized by an exudation into 

 and an opacity of the cornea. The swelling of the anterior part of 

 the eyeball may be of an irregular form, in points resembling small 

 bladders, or it may commence at the periphery of the cornea by an 

 abrupt thickening, which gradually diminishes as it approaches the 

 center. If the whole cornea is affected it has a uniform gray or gi'ay- 

 ish white appearance. The flow of tears is not so marked as in con- 

 junctivitis, nor is the suffering so acute, though both conditions often 

 exist together. Both eyes usually become affected, unless it is due to 

 an external injury. 



In favorable cases the exudate within the cornea begins to disap- 

 pear within a week or 10 days, the eye becomes clearer, and regains 

 its transparency, until it eventually is fully restored. In unfavor- 

 able cases blood vessels form and are seen to traverse the affected part 

 from periphery to center, vision becomes entirely lost, and permanent 

 opacity {albugo or leueoTna) remains. "When it arises from constitu- 

 tional causes recurrence is frequent, leaving the corneal membrane 

 more cloudy after each attack, until the sight is permanently lost. 



Suppurative keratitis may be a sequel of diffuse keratitis; more 

 commonly, however, it abruptly becomes manifest by a raised swell- 

 ing on or near the center of the cornea that very soon assumes a yel- 

 low, turbid color, while the periphery of the swelling fades into an 

 opaque ring. Suppurative keratitis is seldom noticed for the first 

 day or two — not until distinct pus formation has occurred. When 

 it is the result of diffuse keratitis, ulceration and the escape of the 

 contained pus is inevitable; otherwise the pus may be absorbed. 

 When the deeper membranes covering the anterior chamber of the eye 

 become involved, the contents of this chamber may be evacuated and 

 the sight permanently lost. 



Treatment. — Place the animal in a darkened stable, give green or 

 sloppy food, and administer 4 ounces of Glauber's salt (sulphate of 

 soda) dissolved in a quart of water once a day. If the animal is 

 debilitated a tablespoonful of tonic powder should be mixed with the 

 feed three times a day. This may be composed of equal parts by 

 weight of powdered copperas (sulphate of iron), gentian, and ginger. 

 As an application for the eye, nitrate of silver, 3 grains to the ounce 

 of soft water, with the addition of 1 grain sulphate of morphia, may 

 be used several times a day. If ulceration occurs, it is well to dust 

 powdered calomel into the eye twice daily, or to the eyelids apply a 

 salve of yellow oxid of mercury, 5 per cent in lanolin. Some of 

 this may go onto the cornea and beneath the lids. Apply twice daily. 

 (See " Ulcers of the cornea.") 



