INFLAMMATION OF THE EYE. 41 



completely useless ; and all the pretended nostrums, 

 which are celebrated in various parts of the country, 

 are mere delusions. After the disease has once ap- 

 peared in the horse, no man should be permitted to 

 hazard his life in the attempt to administer medicine ; 

 and it should be remembered that the attendant on 

 the rabid horse is always in danger, since the saliva 

 that falls from its mouth, or is thrown furiously about, 

 if received upon a wound, or the slightest abrasion, 

 may produce as dreadful effects as those caused by 

 the bite of a rabid dog. 



CHAPTER VI. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE EYE, OR COMMON AND 

 SPECIFIC OPHTHALMIA. 



Specific ophthalmia is one of the most annoying 

 maladies that the practitioner has to deal with. A 

 horse, and particularly a young horse, may be per- 

 fectly well on a certain day ; but when he is examined 

 upon the following morning, his eyelids are swollen : 

 they almost cover the eye, — they are hot and tender ; 

 —the eye itself may or may not be cloudy ; but the 

 conjunctiva, covering the white that surrounds the 

 coloured part of the eye, and forming the lining of 

 the lid, is much reddened : there is a considerable 

 flow of tears, while the horse hangs his head, and is in 

 evident pain. It will be always prudent to examine, 

 in the first place, whether these symptoms may not be 

 the effect of accident ; whether the horse may have 



