76 CAUSES OF UNSOUNDNESS. 



when circumscribed — probably not larger than a 

 millet-seed — the margin of the speck is generally 

 a little deeper than its central portion. It would 

 appear to be impossible for any professional man 

 to give a decided opinion as to the duration of a 

 speck upon the cornea. A frequent cause of 

 this defect is ophthalmia or inflammation of the 

 eyes, and this, of course, may arise from a variety 

 of causes — such as the entry of a foreign body 

 between the eye-lids — likewise from chemical and 

 specific causes. 



Simple Ophthalmia, or inflammation of the eyes, 

 is of somewhat frequent occurrence in horses, but 

 it is hardly likely that any man would present an 

 animal for examination whilst labouring under this 

 disease. As previously stated, the most frequent 

 cause is the entry of a particle of chaff, etc., 

 between the eye-ball and the eye-lid. At one 

 time " specific ophthalmia," or " moon-blindness," 

 was very common, and nearly always resulted in 

 cataract and complete blindness. Since the intro- 

 duction of improved hygiene in stables, the 

 disease is rarely, if ever, seen in this country. 

 Horses that were apparently all right when left 

 at night, have on the following morning had the 

 eye found in an intense state of inflammation. 



