514 DISEASES OF THE CONJUNCTIVA 



Local treatment is applied at least twice daily in order to 

 remove the irritating material from the conjunctival sac, 

 and also to destroy infection. Many preparations have been 

 recommended and used for this purpose: Boric acid (2 per 

 cent.); creolin (2 per cent.); chinosol (1-500); protargol 

 (2-3 per cent.) ; or in severe cases silver nitrate (0.5 per cent.). 

 This treatment must be continued for one to two weeks to 

 obtain the best results. 



Chronic Form. -^This form of the disease has been observed 

 very frequently in dogs and cats following infectious and 

 contagious diseases. To recognize it as being separate from 

 the acute form is necessary on account of its persistent and 

 long course. It is very common in old animals and those 

 kept under bad hygienic conditions. Many cases of eczema 

 and mange are associated with chronic purulent conjuncti- 

 vitis. It may follow the acute form. 



Symptoms.— The condition of the conjunctiva and the 

 presence of pus with agglutination of the palpebral margins 

 present the appearance in general of the acute form. On 

 examination the conjunctiva is found to be dull red in color, 

 slightly edematous and the cornea frequently has numerous 

 small bloodvessels over its surface. The general condition 

 of the patient is usually bad. 



Prognosis.— Owing to the chronic nature of the disease and 

 its persistency the prognosis is not favorable. The disease 

 may last for months or even the entire life of the animal. 



Treatment. — One of the first essentials in the treatment 

 of this disease is to secure good sanitary conditions, giv- 

 ing plenty of nourishing food and do everything possible 

 to increase the strength of the patient. The various anti- 

 septic solutions recommended for the acute form may also 

 be tried. 



Good results have followed in some chronic cases by pre- 

 paring an autogenic vaccine and administering 1 to 2 c.c. 

 subcutaneously every three to five days. This in con- 

 junction with the above treatment has proved to be of 

 considerable value. 



Parenchymatous Conjunctivitis. — Erysipelatous Conjuncti- 

 vitis.— Definition.— An inflammation of the deeper layers of 



