124 DISEASES OF THE GREYHOUND. 



to let matters alone, and there is scarcely the slightest chance of 

 saving the eye. If, however, in a day or two, the eye maintains 

 its colour and shape, and you find on examination that a small 

 portion of the iris after its escape has become attached to the 

 healed edge of the wound, forming a slight projection, or hernia, 

 as it is called, it is better to touch it with the fine point of a stick 

 of lunar caustic till removed. 



SOMETIMES there is in old dogs a dropsy of the eye, in which 

 it swells to a great extent, and finally bursts, discharging clear 

 water. For this nothing can be done. There is also a disease 

 of the nerve of the eye, which is nearly as incurable, and which is 

 called amaurosis. Here there is total or partial blindness, 

 without any very apparent alteration of the shape or colour of 

 any of the structures ; but the pupil, instead of contracting 

 on the sudden exposure of the eye to light, continues permanently 

 larger than natural, which is the chief means of distinguishing 

 the complaint. A seton is the only remedy likely to be of service, 

 and, if very recent, an active dose of calomel and jalap. When 

 the disease is brought on by a severe course, which is often the 

 case, these remedies will sometimes succeed, and, if partially 

 successful, may be followed up by one-sixteenth of a grain 

 of strychnine in a pill, three times a day, gradually increased up 

 to a quarter of a grain, unless the peculiar symptoms brought on 

 by strychnine are developed, when the remedy may be stopped 

 for a few days, and then recommenced with the lesser dose. 

 These symptoms are a twitching of the muscles of the body, 

 amounting, in well-marked cases, to decided spasms. The dog 



