46 SPECIFIC OPHTHALMIA. 
under the transparent membrane. With a slight incision the pus must 
be released and the eye bathed with a lotion composed of water and 
chloride of zinc, one grain to the ounce. 
Other cases will rather be known by the variety of marks left behind 
than by any difference in their necessary treatment. A lotion is gen- 
erally everything required; however, should the inflammation become 
excessive, it may be necessary to open the eye-vein or the vessel which, 
journeying toward its larger trunk, runs directly beneath and from the 
eye. When this prominent and visible vein is pierced, it frequently, 
although distended, will not bleed. Then place some favorite food upon 
the ground,—the bending of the head and the movement of the jaw will 
cause the current to flow forth freely. 
It is among the most beautiful attributes of the horse, that though so 
very timid, it never suspects nor can it understand actual injury. Thus, 
the flowing of its own blood does not affect it; it is otherwise with other 
animals not more intelligent. If a dog or cat be hurt, no delicacy can 
tempt the creature to feed. The horse, when in battle deprived of its 
limb, is so accustomed to restraint and so unsuspicious of harm, that it 
has heen found, after the strife was ended, maimed, and yet cropping the 
herbage about it. The generous beast, when domesticated, retains its 
gentle disposition, and soon forgets to recognize danger; it becomes 
attached to its superior, and though its treatment be coarse and its 
usage brutal, it can pardon all. 
The consequences of simple ophthalmia are little, white, opaque spots 
upon the membrane. Streaks of the same sort are occasionally left upon 
the organ by the abuse of the whip; the amount 
of blemish, of course, will be decided by the 
original injury. Never purchase an animal thus 
disfigured ; better buy a blind horse. The opaque 
places prevent many rays of light from reaching 
the optic nerve; the sight is irreparably im- 
paired; the horse sees imperfectly; it may be- 
Z hold the head of a man, while the opaque scar 
BOS y ae Roun ne mee conceals the body. Timidity takes alarm at the 
apparently spectral object. It has no reason to 
explain, and it wants intelligence to understand. The poor abused quad- 
ruped becomes a dangerous shyer. 
SPECIFIC OPHTHALMIA. 
Before we touch upon the subject which forms the heading to this 
article, we wish to establish one proposition, because it will smooth the 
way to an understanding between author and reader. 
