DISEASES OF THE EYE. 
43 
It seldom happens, however, that it is so, for in six weeks 
or two months we too frequently find the eye again affected 
with all its former redness, often worse than on the 
former attack; or oftentimes both eyes affected. Indeed 
from time to time a succession of these abatements and 
attacks will have succeeded one another, until a cloudy 
appearance and permanent opacity of the lens or capsule 
of the eye have taken place ; and confirmed blindness in one 
or both eyes is the final result. 
Cause.- —The constant heated air of the stable may be 
considered the remote cause of this inveterate disease, to 
which all horses seem to be predisposed. The poisoned air 
is also a powerful agent in the propagation of ophthalmia. 
To these may be added the too frequent use of stables 
which are totally dark, so that when the animal is suddenly 
brought to the light, the abrupt transition produces a spas¬ 
modic effect on the muscles and vessels of the eye, and 
will cause that excessive inflammation which accompanies 
this disease. 
Remedies. —When this disease first makes its appearance, 
the inside of the eyelids should be freely lanced, which 
often has the effect of stopping the complaint. The horse 
should then be put upon a low diet, and gentle purgative* 1 
administered. Bleeding at the jugular-vein or temporal 
artery has often proved beneficial in diseases of the eye. 
When the cornea presents a cloudy appearance, bleeding 
and cooling medicines are the most likely to relieve it; and 
then use some exciting means to give energy to the absorb¬ 
ents. For this purpose the eye should be washed with a 
weak solution of corrosive sublimate, viz., two grains of the 
sublimate to an ounce and a half of water. 
If opacity of the lens has taken place, we are not aware 
of any means of removing it. 
