344 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



contusions, lacerations, etc. Inflammation <if the cornea may also be 

 clue to the extension of catarrlial conjunctiA'itis or intraocular dis- 

 ease, anJ. it may occasionally occur witlioiit any perceptilile cause. 



tSi/i/i/itovis. — Diffuse keratitis is characterized by an exudation into 

 and an opacity of the cornea. The swelling of the anterior part of 

 the eyeliall may be of an irregular foi'iii, in points reseiiilding small 

 bladders, or it may commence at the periphery of the cornea by an 

 abruiDt thickening, which gradually diminishes as it approaches the 

 center. If the whole cornea is affected, it has a uniform gray or 

 grayish-white appearance. The flow <if tears is not so nuirked as in 

 conjunctivitis, nor is the suffering so acute, though both conditions 

 often exist together. Both eyes usually become affected, unless it is 

 caused by an external injury. 



In favorable cases the exudate within the C((rnea begins to disap- 

 pear within a week or 10 clays, the eye l)ec()m.es clearer and regains 

 its transjDarencj', until it eventually is fully restored. In unfavor- 

 able cases blood vessels form and are seen to traverse the affected part 

 from jjeriphery to center, vision liecomes entirely lost, and permanent 

 opacitj^ (albugo or leucoma) remains. When it arises from constitu- 

 tional causes recurrence is frecjuent, leaving the corneal membrane 

 more cloudy after each attack, until the sight is permanently lost. 



Suppurative keratitis may be a sequel of diffuse keratitis; more 

 commonly, however, it abruptly l)econies manifest by a raised swell- 

 ing on or near the center of the cornea that very soon assumes a yel- 

 low, turbid color, while the peiiphery of the swelling fades into an 

 opaque ring. Suppurative keratitis is seldom noticed for the first 

 day or two — not until distinct pus formation has occun-ed. "When 

 it is the result of diffuse keratitis, ulceration and the escape of the 

 contained pus is inevitalile ; otherwise the pus ma}' be absorbed. 

 When the deeper membranes covering the anterior chamber of the eye 

 become involved, the contents of this chamber may be evacuated and 

 the sight permanently lost. 



Treatm-ent. — Place the animal in a darkened stable, give green or 

 slopjDy feed, and administer 4 ounces of (ilauber's salt (sidphate of 

 soda) dissolved in a quart of water once a day. If the animal is 

 debilitated a tablespoonful of tonic powder should be mixed with the 

 feed three times a day. This may lie composed of e(iual parts by 

 weight of powdered copperas (sulphate of iron), gentian, and ginger. 

 As an application for the eye, nitrate of silver, 3 grains to the ounce 

 of soft water, with the addition of 1 grain sulphate of morphia, may 

 l>e used several times a day. If ulceration o<curs, it is well to dust 

 powdered calomel into the eye twice daily, or apply to the eyelids a 

 sahe of yellow oxid of merc'ury, T) per cent in lanolin. Some of 

 tliis may go on to the cornea and liencath the lids. Apply twice daily. 

 (Sec "Ulcers of the cornea.") 



