398 Veterinary Medicine. 



grayish or brownish, it is thickened unevenly and very sluggish 

 in response to light and darkness. Not infrequently it is ad- 

 herent to the back of the cornea (synechia anterior) or to the 

 front of the lenticular capsule (synechia posterior). The lens 

 and its capsule may or may not be clouded, but if the interior of 

 the vitreous can be seen it is found to be clear. The pupil is 

 more or less uneven in outline and sometimes it is torn at its 

 inner edge so as to form shreds and projecting tongues. Myosis 

 (contraction of the pupil) or midriasis (dilatation) may be 

 present. If the latter has been preceded by adhesion, a portion 

 of the uvea may remain attached to the lenticular capsule consti- 

 tuting black cataract. The lens or its capsule may become 

 opaque, and a fibrinous membrane may form over the pupil. 



Treatment. Rest for body and eye are essential. A dark stall, 

 or a thick covering for the eye is desirable. The head should be 

 kept moderately elevated to facilitate the return of blood. The 

 pupil should be kept widely dilated to prevent adhesions to the 

 lens. Sulphate of atropia 5 grs. to the oz. of water should be 

 applied a few drops at a time, thrice a day, or as often as may be 

 necessary to secure dilatation. In case the atropia fails to secure 

 dilatation a 5 per cent, solution of cocaine should be dropped into 

 the eye every three or four minutes for four or five times and 

 then another application of atropia may be tried warm. Should 

 it still fail and should there be indications of extra congestion 

 and swelling of the iris or of excessive tension of the eyeball, relief 

 may be obtained by puncturing the cornea. With the reduction 

 of the tension the iris will often respond to the midriatic. Bene- 

 fit may also be obtained from an active purgative, or the applica- 

 tion of leeches in the vicinity of the eye. 



Cooling astringent applications may be kept up over the eye, 

 or warm antiseptic applications will often give great relief. 



In obstinate cases the yellow oxide of mercury ointment may 

 be applied as advised for internal ophthalmia. 



Cooling diuretics may also be of essential advantage. 



If, after a fair recovery the bulb remains unduly tense, iridec- 

 tomy may be resorted to as a prophylactic measure for the. future. 

 An incision is made with a lancet close in front of the margin of 

 the cornea, and the iris seized and withdrawn with a pair of fine 

 forceps, and a portion snipped off with fine scissors. The eye 



