Pinh Eye among Horses in 1890. 
177 
owners without speedily becoming affected with the epizootic. Great 
numbers of new purchases have fallen victims to the disease within 
a few days of their arrival, and have succumbed before enteriug 
upon the work for which they were intended. Overcrowding, in- 
efficient ventilation, bad drainage, and various other causes which 
enfeeble the constitution and diminish its vital resistance, tend to 
augment the receptivity of the individual horse. Up to the pi'esent 
time, private stables have suffered comparatively little from the dis- 
oi'der. Increased air-space and good sanitary surroundings have 
proved a barrier against the disease, or, failing this, have tended 
to greatly shorten its duration and mitigate its effects. 
Unlike the catari'hal form of influonza, there are in this disease 
few or no pi-emonitions of its onset : hence it is that horses, appar- 
ently well in the morning, are found in the middle of a day's work 
suddenly manifesting symptoms of an urgent character. The onset 
of the affection is abrupt and severe — so much so that in two or 
three hours a horse is completely prostrated, and reduced from seem- 
ing health to a helpless invalid. Sudden and extreme prostration is 
the characteristic development of the early period of the disorder. 
In a short space of time the patient becomes dull and extremely 
depressed. There is lowering of the head, the eyelids droop, and 
the face wears an expression of extreme dulness and languor. At 
the same time, movements — formerly active and vigorous — become 
lethargic and feeble, and, less frequently, the gait is rolling and 
unsteady. In a state of I'est the animal shifts the weight from 
one limb to another, and gives evidences of muscular pain and ex- 
haustion. He will lie down for long periods, emitting nosv and again 
a deep moaii ; and if approached shows no disposition to resume the 
standing posture. Closer examination reveals a quick and feeble 
pulse ; the breathing is more or less accelerated. The temperature 
of the body is heightened to the extent of three, four, or five degrees, 
and associated with this there is marked general pi'ostration. The 
membrane of the eye is of a deep brick-red hue, and in .some 
instances the structures of the eyelids are generally swollen, partly 
from the overloaded vessels and prirtly also from an escape of 
fluid into the tissues of the part. In extreme cases this dropsical 
state of the membrane causes the lids to be everted, or turned inside 
out, and there is a profuse discharge of tears. Thirst and lack of 
appetite are early symptoms in the attack, and for the most part the 
bowels are constipated. 
In some outbreaks, however, and especially where animals 
have been closely packed in ill-ventilated and otherwise unsani- 
tary stables, the digestive canal shows marked irritability and 
disorder. In other cases a foul stinking diarrhoea results, attended 
with signs of abdominal pain. In these examples of the affection 
the animal paws the ground, looks towards the flank, and repeatedly 
lies down in slight paroxysms of pain. These are unfavourable 
symptoms, and unless relief be quickly afforded a fatal termination 
to the case is much to be feared. A very striking clinical feature 
in the recent outbreak refers to the state of the bladder, which in 
VOL. II. T, s. — 5 N 
