OBSERVATIONS MADE IN CANINE MEDICINE. 
245 
transparent elevation to those of the larger and firmer, which, 
being perfectly carnified, lend to the patch the aspect of a dull, 
red, angry mass, according to the severity of the implication. 
Having fully observed the local condition, we naturally 
enough turn next to a consideration of causes before attempting 
to outline treatment. As already remarked, the literature upon 
this, as many other diseases, is singularly scanty and, unfortu¬ 
nately, very conflicting. Frohner and Mdller, for instance, 
whom, from exceptional opportunity and special qualifications, 
are beyond doubt the greatest authorities upon this particular 
subject, quite disagree as to its cause. While they both seem 
to consider the granulations as the outcome of hypertrophy of 
the preexisting lymphoid tissue in the conjunctiva, Frohner 
looks upon the cause of this hypertrophy as arising from exter¬ 
nal irritation transmitted direct from the eye-ball, as dust, 
smoke, irritating gases, etc., and holds the corneal disturbances, 
and later symptoms of catarrhal conjunctivitis, etc., as entirely 
secondary to the formation of granulations, while Holier 
reverses the order and maintains that the granulations are 
secondary to the inflammatory changes going on in other parts 
of the eye or its appendages. 
Personal experience both in the European clinics, where 
these very deductions have been made, as well as in private 
practice here, has almost convinced me that we cannot entirely 
ignore either theories, if we would reach the true etiology of 
this disease. That a chronic conjunctivitis may and occasion¬ 
ally does give rise to hypertrophy of the lymphoid tissue, not 
only of the lids, but upon the posterior aspect of the mem- 
brana nictitans, it would be idle to deny, but the verv fact of 
animals suffering so frequently from not only severe but specific 
affections of the conjunctiva, as marked in distemper, for in¬ 
stance, without developing this particular chronic form of gran¬ 
ulation which so commonly leads on to those disastrous results, 
goes far to convince me that the common cause does not lie in 
a general conjunctivitis. The increase in size of the follicles 
during those diseases is probably more of resorptions irritation. 
