148 THE VETERINARY DOCTOR. 
In the various inflammations and catarrhal affections of the eyes local 
applications are of great value, though caution is needed in their use, especially 
in that of nitrate of silver or sugar of lead. Some 
cases may require these medicines, but simpler arti- 
cles will usually answer all necessities, and are attended 
with less danger. When the eye is inflamed and 
gives out a mucous discharge, pulverized sugar or 
salt, blown into it through a quill once or twice a 
day, will often give prompt relief. A wash made of 
one part of fluid hydrastia and four of water is excel- 
lent. In the general care, examine the eye to dis- 
cover hay, dirt, seeds, und other foreign matter which 
adheres to the upper eyelid, and is detected by turn- 
ing the lid back over the little finger. If a portion 
of the front part or of the membrane of the eye has 
METHOD OF PROTECT- . 
inc THE Eyrs andj Ap- been removed by a blow, a drop or two of castor-oil 
PLyINnG Lotions. 
or glycerine may be put upon the wound. Keep the 
light subdued so as not to pain the eye, guarding -against cold and 
. impure air. Many good horses are reduced in value by neglect of seeds or 
grit in the eye, however trivial it may seem. 
PERIODIC INFLAMMATION.—MOON-BLINDNESS, 
The latter of these names is used because the periodic attacks are by 
some supposed to occur with the changes of the moon. This disease is an 
inflammation of the entire ball of the eye, without any apparent cause 
externally, and if neglected is often incurable and ends in total blindness. 
It abates, recurs, and may shift back and forth from one eye the other. It 
is often inherited, though it may be undeveloped in one generation and 
reappear in the next. In these cases it may be promoted, in others it is 
caused, by the impure air of close, dirty, dark stables; poor food; cold or 
wet; violent exertion, as in running; frequent sudden transitions from a dark 
stable to glaring sunlight; undue supply of blood in the system; congestion 
affecting the head, caused perhaps by pressure of a collar which prevents 
a flow of the blood from the head; changes from cold to warm stables; 
also from pasture to high feeding and heavy work; foul litter, which is even 
worse than a glaring light; teething; simple inflammation of the eye may 
cause it. Damp soils, marshy pasture, and excessive moisture in the atmos- 
phere are predisposing causes, especially in horses that are subject to the 
disease by heredity. Horses that have soft, lax, flabby muscles, thin skin, 
flat feet, and that lack energy in work, are predisposed to it; likewise those 
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