DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 183 
tans ; its office or function is to cleanse the eye of dirt 
or other substances getting into it. 
Treatment.—This is simple and effective :. Open the 
bowels with the aloes ball recommended in rheumatism, 
and apply the following wash: Tincture of opium, one 
ounce ; rain-water, one pint; mix together and bathe 
the eye three or four times a day. Do not be persuaded 
to cut out this membrane of the eye, as its removal. does 
injury by impairing its function. 
SIMPLE OPHTHALMIA. 
This disease arises from some external injury, as a 
blow upon the eye, or from a foreign body getting into 
_ it, causing inflammation to ensue; the eye becomes 
swollen, very sensitive, and watery. 
Treatment.—Open the vein under the eye and let it 
bleed until it stops of itself... Open the. bowels, . and 
use the following wash: Tincture of opium, six drachms ; 
tincture of aconite, two drachms ; rain-water, one pint ; 
mix all together, and bathe the eye three times a day: 
or, use belladonna, one ounce; rain-water, one pint ; 
mix, and bathe the same. 
SPECIFIC OPHTHALMIA, 
This is called by horsemen moon-blindness, from its 
periodical appearance ; supposed by some persons to be 
governed by the moon. The eyes in this disease become 
watery, and a white film covers the entire ball of the 
eye. When this disease once appears, we may look for 
its termination in blindness. The eyes may be cleared 
up a few times, but eventually the animal goes blind. 
Treatment.—Open the bowels freely with the aloes 
ball, and give internally one of the following powders in 
the feed, night and morning : Colchicum root pulverized, 
