292 STABLE MANUAL AND HORSE DOCTOR 



Should the inflammation run very high, the superior 

 branch of the angular or facial vein, called the eye- vein, 

 may be opened as before directed. 



On recovery, remove the horse to a high, clean, cool 

 stable, where there are no irritant exhalations from ex- 

 crement. Listen to no quacks who pretend to infallible 

 remedies for the remaining defects visible in the eye, 

 should any remain. You may now and then strengthen 

 the eye by a little cold lotion of crude sal ammoniac and 

 red rose leaves, or laudanum and rose-water, if you must be 

 doing something ; but don't let farriers put their ruinous 

 messes into the sore and sensitive eye. 



CATARACT. 



Cataract is often the result of specific ophthalmia. Cata- 

 ract is total, partial, or consists of specks on the capsule of 

 the crystalline lens. In the first the lens is quite white. 



In other cases that have stopped short in their career, 

 spots only of an uncertain size are visible on the lens or 

 upon its capsule ; a white opaque spot on either is called a 

 cataract. Cataracts, however, can and do exist in eyes that 

 have never been subjected to ophthalmia ; and as they 

 make their appearance without any apparent cause, so 

 they occasionally will depart without any treatment. 

 Blows sometimes produce them ; and when caused in this 

 manner they are for the most part stationary. However, 

 in cataract following ophthalmia there is generally much 

 derangement of the other internal parts of the eye, par- 

 ticularly of the iris, which sometimes adheres to the lens, 

 at others to the cornea ; and in some cases its pupillary 

 opening is so reduced by contraction as to render the 

 cataract hardly perceptible. This internal derangement 

 greatly prevents any benefit being derived from the opera- 

 tion of couching, added to which a horse so operated upon, 

 to have perfect vision, would require to wear spectacles. 

 It has, however, been suggested that even without glasses 

 so much benefit might be gained from it as to prevent acci- 

 dents, like running against posts, falling into pits, etc. 

 This, nevertheless, would be greatly overbalanced by the 

 imperfect vision, Avhich would render the horse so operated 

 on very dangerous from his liability to shy. 



Treatment — Cataracts of all sizes and shapes are best 



