216 THE DISEASES OF THE DOG. 



of the cornea by ulceration; poppy head infusions and 

 fomentations to the inflamed eye. and exclusion of light, 

 followed by astringent lotions and cold water applications,, , 

 are required after removal of the cause in so far as is possi- 

 ble. When the inflammation runs very high local bleed- 

 ing, preferably by leeches, may be tried. Some cases, 

 especially those associated with skin disorder, prove very 

 obstinate, as was noted by Blaine, who found benefit from a 

 seton in the neck. The cornea of the dog is peculiarly 

 liable to degenerative changes in cases of malnutrition. 

 This is best seen in the ulceration which occurs in some 

 cases of distemper. When the profuse discharge has been 

 cleaned away it is noticeable that there is a small circular 

 depression of the cornea ; it is not yet a true ulcer, and 

 the conjunctiva remains unbroken. Later the conjunctiva 

 and the aqueous membrane lie together until they finally 

 give way and the humour escapes. This is followed by a 

 rapid profuse growth from the ulcer, which has a granulat- 

 ing character and gradually involves the neighbouring 

 parts of the cornea, which become opaque and vascular. 

 Thus, a sort of fungous growth, staphyloma, is produced 

 which is very irritable and unsightly, and has to be 

 removed by excision, or else, in very bad cases, the eyeball 

 must be extirpated. Staphyloma may, however, disappear 

 gradually either without treatment or on application of 

 nitrate of silver and the cornea resume its original 

 transparency ; or some opacity of the cornea may remain. 

 Opacity may best be dealt with by stimulation with caustic, 

 but it often obstinately resists treatment. 



Dropsy of the Aqueous Chamber is not rare. It is seen 

 especially in King Charles's spaniels, and is supposed to 

 result from an excessively saccharine diet. It is noted by 

 undue convexity of the cornea, which also becomes clouded 

 and gradually thinner. As the disease progresses the eye 

 may bulge more and more until at length the cornea 

 becomes ulcerated and the aqueous humour escapes. 

 This result may be averted by puncture with a lancet 

 or small trocar ; there will be less chance of a mark 

 remaining than after an ulcer. Occasionally the eye is 



