CHAPTER II. 



DISEASES OF THE CONJUNCTIVA. 



Examination.— Examination is simple in the dog, cat and 

 bird. The animal should be held either by an assistant or 

 restrained so as to facilitate the examination. Ordinary 

 daylight or artificial light may be used. The lower lid can 

 be pulled downward by placing the thumb on or near the 

 palpebral margin, and the upper lid pushed upward with 

 the index finger of the same hand in a similar position. This 

 manipulation will expose nearly all of the membrane. The 

 examination is made for inflammations, foreign bodies, cysts, 

 tumors, and wounds of various kinds. Vicious animals 

 should be restrained by taping the mouth or by general 

 anesthesia. 



CONJUNCTIVITIS. 



Definition.— Inflammation of the conjunctiva. In small 

 animals various types of inflammation are of frequent occur- 

 rence. These animals are subjected to injuries which often 

 involve the conjunctival membrane, and infectious diseases 

 (distemper in dog and cat, epitheliosis in bird) which 

 produce various forms of inflammation. The xerosis 

 bacillus, Staphylococcus albus and S. aureus, strepto- 

 coccus, diphtheria bacillus and others are more or less present 

 in the eye leading in many cases to local infection and 

 inflammation. 



It is noted further that the conjunctival membrane is 

 very vascular, rich in lymph cells, and sensitive to outside 

 influences, all of which tend to favor the development of 

 inflammatory conditions. 



The following forms of conjunctivitis are recognized : 



(a) Catarrhal, (b) purulent, (c) parenchymatous, (d) 

 croupous, (e) follicular, and (/) exanthematous. 



