20 SPECIAL CATTLE THERAPY 



eyes are only partly open and the lids appear slightly 

 swollen. Within twenty-four to forty-eight hours 

 nearly every animal in the herd is affected. In those 

 that develop the disease in its severe form the lachry- 

 mal flow becomes purulent on about the second day. 

 The cornea becomes the scat of an ulcer, or several 

 of them. In not a few casus the ulceration continues 

 until perforation of the cornea results, staphylomata 

 appear and the eye is permanently injured. A deposit 

 of pus may also be seen along the inferior margin of 

 the cornea in the anterior chamber. Permanent cor- 

 neal and even lenticular opacities frequently destroy 

 the sight. 



In the mild eases the symptoms consist of profuse 

 lachrymation, and a considerable degree of photo- 

 phobia. This disappears in three or four days under 

 treatment, or even without treatment. In the severe 

 form from two to three weeks may elapse before the 

 disease runs its course, leaving one or both cj'es partly 

 or wholly blind. 



The treatment of this disease is entirely local, con- 

 sisting of antiseptic and astringent solutions and oint- 

 ments. 



In the mild form we use one per cent yellow oxid 

 of mercury ointment. A small lump of this ointment 

 of about the size of a pea, is placed within the lower 

 eyelid near the external canthus and the lids pressed 

 together a few moments, until the ointment becomes 

 warm. It is then distributed over the interior surface 

 of the orbit by gentle massaging of the lids and the 

 movements of the eye-ball. 



The animals should be kept indoors and the stable 

 darkened for a few days. In three to five days re- 

 covery is complete. In the severe form, in which the 

 discharges from the eyes are purulent in character a 



