Parasites of the Eye, 449 



tional cases two, three or four have been found, and Roche I^ubin 

 extracted as many as seven from the one eye. Both eyes may be 

 affected at once or successively, and successive worms in the same 

 eye are not uncommon, carrying the disease over four months 

 with intermissions (Durechou). 



It is claimed that the worm may be quiescent in its early stages, 

 though actively mobile later, and Degouilleme claims that at first 

 there may be observed in the lower part of the anterior chamber 

 small grayish white pea-like bodies representing the cysts from 

 which the worms escaped. 



Treatment. The most certain and effective treatment is extrac- 

 tion of the worm by puncture, as in the horse. Medicinal treat- 

 ment has, however, been much more largely resorted to in cattle. 

 Lafosseusedlocal applications of absinthum,salammoniac, sulphate 

 of zinc or nitrate of silver. Chaignaud dropped inside the eye- 

 lids a solution of tincture of aloes in an equal amount of distilled 

 water and found that the parasite dropped and became immovable 

 in three or four days. Its absorption required several weeks, 

 during which cooling astringent collyria were applied. Faure 

 gave sulphate of mercury by the mouth (i dr.) with sublimed 

 sulphur (2 drs. ) in a mixture of dry bran. The motions of the 

 worm ceased in four or five days. 



If cataract is present before treatment is begun, it of course re- 

 mains as a permanent lesion. 



Parasites in the Eye of the Sheep. Haselbach has fur- 

 nished the one example of this kind. A ram manifested, sclero- 

 titis, opacity of the cornea and photophobia, with a disposition to 

 rub the eye, was treated for the same, and in three days, when 

 the cornea had cleared somewhat, a white filament with active 

 leech-like movements, was observed in the aqueous humor. 

 The ram shook his head violently to escape restraint and the 

 parasite disappeared behind the iris. The cornea clouded over 

 anew six days later, and cleared up again under treatment by 

 laudanum, but although the ram was kept under observation for 

 nine months no worm reappeared. 



Filaria Oculi Canina. Filaria Trispinulosa. This worm 

 was once found by Gescheidt in the vitreous humor of a six year 

 old dog. It was 7 mm. in length, cylindroid with a slight nar- 

 rowing toward the tail, round mouth with three small, round 



29 



