DISEASES OF THE EYE 127 



a white fleecy appearance, and is usually situated between the conjuncti- 

 val membrane and the cornea, or in severe cases between the layers of 

 the cornea. 



Under favorable circumstances, the deposit will be removed in time 

 by the ordinary operations of nature, but in aggravated cases it will 

 probably be in some degree permanent. 



For simple ophthalmia connected with catarrh and influenza, no 

 treatment is necessary beyond cooling lotions, as 



Chloride of ammonium, 



Nitrate of potash aa § iiss. 



Water 1 pint. 



Wet a rag in this and hang it over the affecteu eye, and darken the 

 stable. The disease is only sympathetic and usually subsides with the 

 primary affection. 



SPECIFIC OPHTHALMIA. 



Synonyms. — Periodic opthalmia; Moon blindness. 



Specific ophthalmia is a rare disease, and is considered a constitutional 

 affection. It is an inflammation of the internal structure of the eye. 



Etiology. — Usually supposed to be malarial. Stables in which the 

 horse is habitually in almost total darkness and which are almost of ne- 

 cessity foul stables. It is considered by some, including Percival, to be 

 caused sometimes by hereditary predisposition. 



In the very early stage, many of the symptoms are the same as those 

 of common ophthalmia. If, however, on examination we can discover no 

 sufficient cause for the closing of the eye, such as an external wound or a 

 catarrhal affection, there is always some reason to fear that the attack 

 may be the specific disease. As the treatment in the early stage is the 

 same in either case, we may wait patiently for the development of fur- 

 ther symptoms. 



Symptoms. — Sometimes the disease comes on slowly, but more com- 

 monly appears suddenly and gains ground rapidly. There is turgescence 

 of the lids, a flow of tears, intolerance of light, a slightly inflamed state 

 of the conjunctiva at the outer margin of the cornea. As these symp- 



