Parasites of the Eye. 447 



Anus 300 ft. from the caudal extremity. Vulva 50 to 104 //. from 

 the mouth. Ovoviviparous. Embryos 350 y. long, 5^ ft thick, 

 slightly narrowed in front and with finely pointed tail. Neither 

 of these agrees perfectly with the Filaria papillosa of the serous 

 membranes and the question of identity may be left unsettled. 



Symptoms. Exceptionally the worm causes no inflammation, 

 and it can be seen actively bending and unbending itself, in the 

 form of a loop, a figure of 8, or a spiral in the anterior chamber. 

 Usually there is considerable inflammation, closure of the lids, 

 watering of the eye, redne.ss of the mucosa, clouding and even 

 vascularity of the cornea. Still in the majority of cases a portion 

 of the cornea remains sufficiently transparent to allow the move- 

 ments of the worm to be seen. Sometimes it will temporarily re- 

 treat through the pupil and disappear behind the iris. 



Sometimes only one eye is invaded, in other cases both eyes, 

 and in certain instances two or even three parasites are found in 

 one eye. 



In Hindostan the filaria oculi is not infrequently associated 

 with a weakness of the kidneys called kumree or ah-drung, but 

 the English army veterinarians look upon this as a mere coinci- 

 dence. The wet hot regions infested by the filaria oculi, are 

 equally favorable to the preservation of the parasites and micro- 

 organisms of other diseases. 



Treatment. Rayo, who was the second to record instances of 

 filaria oculi equina, also furnishes a successful ca.se of treatment 

 by puncture of the cornea (1773). The puncture may be made 

 standing, the eye having been first rendered insensible by the ap- 

 plication of a pledget of cotton wool dipped in a 4 per cent, solu- 

 tion of cocaine and then disinfected with a mercuric chloride solu- 

 tion (1:5000). The incision is made clo.se to the margin of the 

 cornea with a narrow-bladed lancet or cataract needle which has 

 been first sterilized in a carbolic acid solution (1:30), and then 

 dipped in boiled water. The upper margin of the cornea is usu- 

 ally selected, and the point of the lancet directed parallel to but 

 in front of the iris. The e.scape of the aqueous humor usually 

 brings with it a portion of the filaria which is at once seized with 

 forceps and extracted. Should it fail to protrude, the sterilized 

 forceps must be introduced and the parasite .seized and withdrawn. 



The operation can be accomplished more deliberately and accu- 

 rately if the animal is subjected to general anaesthesia. 



