of the Royal Veterinary College. 451 
proportion of the lambs which survived, due to the rheumatismal 
indammation attacking the fibrous tissues of the eye. Treatment 
availed but little in any of these cases. 
(c.) Ophthalmic Disease of Cattle. — For several years past a 
disease of the eyes of cattle has prevailed, particularly calves and 
young store-stock, and more especially during the summer months. 
The malady has many of the characteristics of the affection 
technically called Staphyloma. Its cause has not clearly been 
ascertained ; but there appear to be reasons for believing that it 
may possibly be due to parasitic agency. The affection was less 
rife in 1870, but nevertheless sufficiently so to call for special 
mention in this Report. 
With regard to its local treatment, it has been found that at 
the commencement, antiphlogistic remedies, modified according 
to cirumstances, have sufficed in many instances, especially 
when combined with a perfect exclusion of light, to effect a 
cure. In many cases, however, blindness, partial or complete, 
has resulted despite the adoption of the best directed means of 
effecting a cure. 
{(1.) Jcorn Poisoning. — The autumn of 1870, like that of 
1868, witnessed the loss of a large number of young cattle at 
pasture in parks and places where oak-trees were growing. 
Investigation showed that the disease often destroyed 60 or 70 
per cent, of the animals attacked, and that the malady depended 
entirely on the cattle eating the acorns as they fell from the trees. 
It has been supposed that the ill effects were principally due to 
the astringent properties of the fruit, which led to constipation 
and its attendant ill consequences of occlusion and inflammation 
of the bowels. On this point, however, opinions do not coincide. 
At present the veterinary profession is unacquainted with any 
antidote to the deleterious matter, nor does it yet know on what 
the poisonous effects of acorns really depend. 
It is proposed that a chemical examination of fresh acorns be 
undertaken by Professor Tuson in the course of this year, with a 
view to the solution of this question. Animals are now within 
the College, which are being used for experimental purposes to 
determine, if possible, the several problems connected with this 
important subject. One young ox has especially been brought 
under the influence of the acorn poison. The symptoms which 
developed themselves were perfectly characteristic, and differed 
in no respect from those which were observed among the animals 
which were affected when at pasture. The young ox in question 
remained in a very precarious condition for two or three weeks, 
but ultimately recovered. As will be inferred from these general 
observations on this interesting subject, further investigations 
will be undertaken for its more complete elucidation. The 
