THE OX AND THE DAIRY. 253 



glands open, are sometimes subject to a pustular eruption and 

 ulceration ; in these cases the skin is often mangy, and the 

 animals are in wretched condition. Aperients of sulphur, 

 and alteratives, consisting of one drachm of sethiops mineral 

 (sulphate of mercury), two drachms of nitre, and four 01 

 sulphur, given every night, will be found useful ; the eyelids 

 must be smeared with the ointment of nitrate of mercury 

 (ungt. hydrargri nitratis, P.L.), more or less diluted with pure 

 spermaceti ointment, or pure olive oil, every night and morn- 

 ing, by means of a camel hair-pencil (no iron must <5ome in 

 contact with the preparation). The ointment of the nitric- 

 oxide of mercury (ung. hydr. nitric- oxyd. P.L.) diluted in a 

 similar way is also valuable. This is essentially the golden 

 ointment, so much in vogue. 



Warts occasionally form on the eyelids and prove trouble- 

 some : these may be removed by means of a sharp pair of 

 scissors, the places being afterwards touched with lunar 

 caustic. In weakly or aged cattle, ill-fed and out of condi- 

 tion, an oedematous or dropsical swelling of the eyelids not 

 unfrequently occurs, the cellular tissue being puffed up with 

 serum, infiltrated into it ; the tumefaction pits, upon pressure, 

 like dough. A restoration to good health and strength is the 

 only remedy. 



In high-fed and fattening oxen, on the contrary, the 

 eyelids are found to be puffed up by some gas, which 

 distends the cellular tissue : a slight scratch with the point of 

 a lancet will allow of the escape of the gas, upon pressure ; 

 but it is better to let the eyelids alone, and give a dose of 

 physic. 



The haw, or membrana nictitans, of the eyes, is sometimes 

 found to be swelled, inflamed, and even ulcerated from irrita- 

 tion ; and is not unfrequently enlarged and protruded in 

 consequence. Cooling mashes, as goulard lotion, with a 

 little laudanum, will diminish the inflammation, and after- 

 wards the astringent solution of sulphate of zinc (from two to 

 four grains to an ounce of pure water), must be applied two 

 or three times a day, to the part itself, a camel-hair pencil 

 being used for the purpose. This treatment, if persevered 

 in, will often effect a cure. Where fungous excrescences 

 sprout, they may be delicately touched by the caustic. The 

 haw should never be removed if possible ; this moveable 

 curtain cleanses and defends the surface of the eye, and its 

 loss is a serious inconvenience. In some cases, however, the 



