RURAL VETERINARY SECRETS 133 



PERIODIC OPTHALMIA 



This disease is due to a parasite which gains access to the eye 

 and atfects the optic nerve and brings about symptoms of inflamma- 

 tion about once a month. The origin of the germ and the manner 

 in which it obtains access to this organ is still unknowai to scien- 

 tists, but we do know, if taken in time, we very frequently succeed 

 in destroying the troublesome agent of disease by keeping the horse 

 in a dark place, bathing the eye with warm camomile tea and boric 

 acid ; taking about twenty grains of boric acid to a common tea- 

 cupful of the tea and applying the same over the eye live or six time^ 

 daily with a bandage, which is kept saturated with the solution. 

 This will reduce the swelling and take out the greater part of the 

 inflammation. Then you may take Mercury Ointment (Blue Oint- 

 ment) one part, lanolin twx:) parts, mix and rub into the eye and 

 around the orbit once daily for three or four days, then rest and 

 watch results. During the time you are making the external ap- 

 plication, the animal should have one dram of Iodide of Potash in 

 its drinking water twice daily, at least one hour before meals. 

 Never give this medicine with the food, as you will get no results. 

 Continue this for five or six days, then stop. This treatment is the 

 most successful of any that is known to the writef for Periodic 

 Opthalmia, although the history of the disease would lead one to 

 believe that medical treatment has not been very successful in the 

 past. 



FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE 



(Aphthous Fever) 



Foot-and-mouth disease is highly infectious, acute, febrile dis- 

 ease of cloven-footed animals, particularly cattle. Horses, dogs, 

 cats, poultry, and even man may become infected. It is character- 

 ized by the formation of vesicles or blisters on the membrane of the 

 mouth and on the skin between the toes and above the hoofs. The 

 disease does not exist in the United States. Since it has broken 

 out on several occasions, however, through infection from abroad, 

 it is a disease with which every livestock owner should be fimiliar. 



CAUSE 



The cause of the disease is too small to be seen with a microscope 

 and is known as a Alterable virus. Transmission occurs by direct con- 

 tact witli infected animals or by any agency, such as man, other animals, 



