Diseases of the Eyes. 333 



SUPEBFICIAL INFLAMMATION OF THE EYE. SIMPLE 

 OPHTHALMIA. CONJUNCTIVITIS. 



Causes. Blows with whips, etc., hay-seed, chaff, dust; 

 lime, thorns, etc., in the eye ; standing in a current of cold 

 air ; irritant emanations from dung and urine ; obstruction 

 of the lachrymal duct with swelhng at the inner angle of 

 the eye and hardened mucus in the orifice of the duct as 

 seen in the floor of the chamber of the nose ; in horse and 

 ox, the presence of a wovm—^laria lachrymalis — inside the 

 eyeHds ; and in pigs of the measle bladder-worm — cysticer- 

 cus cellulosa — in the fat around the eye. 



Symptoms. Eed, sore, watery eyes, with or without 

 fever according to the severity of the attack, soon followed 

 by a bluish or white film or opacity extending no deeper 

 than the surface of the transparent part of the eyeball. 

 The sweUing of the eyeUds may extend to the hollow above 

 the eye, filling it up. There is no suffering or winking 

 when brought into a bright light, nor any undue contrac- 

 tion of the pupil as compared with healthy eyes. If for- 

 eign bodies are present they will be detected by exami- 

 nation. 



Treatment. Hay-seed, chaff, etc., may be removed with 

 a pair of small forceps, with the point of a lead pencil, or 

 with the head of a pin covered with a soft handkerchief. 

 Lime and sand may be similarly removed or washed out 

 with a fine syringe. Thorns may be picked out with a 

 needle,- the animal having been first thrown and the eye 

 fixed with the fingers or by putting the patient under the 

 influence of ether or chloroform. Or if not too deep they 

 wUl slough out of their own accord in a day or two. The 

 patient must be protected from cold or any other apparent 

 cause of iUness, should take a dose of physic, and have 

 the affected eye covered with a cloth constantly wet with 

 a solution of 1 dr. sugar of lead or sulphate of zinc, 10 grains 

 morphia and 1 pint water. It is often best to use it tepid 

 but if used cold it should be maintained so. 



