Acute Catarrhal Conjunctivitis. 365 



In the milder forms of the affection there may be little or no 

 hyperthermia, while in severe attacks the febrile reaction may be 

 considerable. 



Lesions. The non-traumatic cases which are not complicated 

 by varied wounds and injuries, show exudation and cell prolifer- 

 ation in the palpebral conjunctiva and to a less extent in the bul- 

 bar. The conjunctival papillae are swollen and become visible to 

 the naked eye and in aggravated cases stand out like fungous 

 masses. The superficial layer of cylindroid epithelium is found 

 swollen, opaque and sometimes desquamating. The lymphoid 

 bodies which are most abundant in the depth of the conjunctival 

 sac, are infiltrated, swollen, and bulging in reddened masses. 



Other lesions in the nature of granular or follicular hyper- 

 plasia, abscess and corneal new growth and ulcers may follow, 

 but will be better considered .unde;r separate headings. 



The tendency of simple uncomplicated conjunctivitis is to re- 

 covery which may be completed in a week or ten days. In case 

 of contused wounds, abscess, ulcer, special infection in a lym- 

 phatic subject like the ox, the affection is more likely to be 

 prolonged or followed by grave lesions. 



Treatment. The first object must be to remove the cause, 

 hence foreign bodies, displaced lids or cilia, irritant gases, excess 

 of light, cold draughts or exposure, etc., must be sought and 

 corrected. For the removal of the foreign bodies, fine forceps or 

 various common articles (hair pin, lead ;^encil, a pin head, a 

 folded clean handkerchief, or even the clean finger) may be used. 

 In case of wounds especially, they* should be first sterilized. 

 Boiled water which has been copied to luke warm may be used 

 from a sterilized syringe. 



l/ocally antiseptic and astringent coUyria (sublimate solution — 

 I : 5000, zinc sulphate — i : 1000), lead acetate, alum, tannin, 

 creolin, boric acid, tannoform, formalin, itrol, colargolum, silver 

 ijitrate, etc. , are valuable and may even be thrown under the 

 eyelids from a syringe with a finely rounded nozzle and many 

 orifices. Even a 2 per cent, solution of silver nitrate may be ap- 

 plied, in the conjunctival sac twice daily, or as being less irritating, 

 a solution of pyoktanin (i : 1000). If the irritation is great a 

 soft rag wet with the solution may be attached to the headstall 

 of the bridle and hung loosely over the eye, care being taken to 



