25 DADD’S VETERINARY MEDICINE AND SURGERY. 
OPHTHALMIA, OR INFLAMMATION OF THE EvE, 
(SOMETIMES CALLED ‘' HOOKS.”’) 
This is a very common affection, yet a most painful one, an. 
van not well be mistaken. The animal keeps the eyelids closed 
T: ey are more or less swollen, and the internal surface of the same 
ippears very red. There is an unnatural flow of tears running 
down the cheeks. The haw, or nictitating membrane, is swollen 
and very vascular. This condition of the haw is known to some 
persons as the hooks, and serves as an excuse for the performance 
of a barbarous operation, not sanctioned by science or common 
sense, viz.: amputation of the haw, which only aggravates the 
disease, and deprives the horse of a useful appendage to the organs 
of vision. 
In the early stage of this aisease, and wheu scalding tears rua 
copiously over the cheeks, we denominate it catarrhal ophthalminu 
The disease is not of a very serious nature, but often becomes sa 
in consequence of the outrageous treatment practiced, such as 
bleeding, purging, and the local application of lunar caustic, 
The proper mode of treatment is to keep the patient on a light 
diet, and occasionally bathe the region of the eye with an infusion 
of poppies or hops; sometimes with tepid or cold water, as the casa 
may seem to indicate, according to the rational judgment of the 
owner of the afflicted animal. It is the very best application thet 
can be made, and is much more scientific, according to the dictum 
of the God of Nature, than many of the agents heretofore used, 
The fact is, many indications of disease designated as inflamma. 
tion are curable only through the intervention of time avd a 
tational expectancy. Don’t do any violence to nature in the 
use of destructive or poisonous agents, and should the case be 
curable, it will terminate favorably under this treatment. Ac- 
cording to the dictum of the schools of veterinary medicine, 
inflammation of the eye. as well as inflammatory action of other 
parts of the body, has to be treated heroically, which system of 
teatment kills mcre than it ever cures. As the subject of inflam- 
tiation is a very important one, worthy the attention and con- 
sideration of American husbandmen, I here introduce an article 
from the pen of A. 8, Copeman, who was formerly associated 
with me in «conducting the “Veterinary Institute of Boston,” 
Massachusetta : 
