Locally use pyoktannin solution (1 ∶ 1000) or mercuric chloride (1 ∶ 5000) injecting under the lids so as to bring it in contact with the whole diseased surface. A cloth wet with the same solution may be hung over the eye. Boric acid (1 ∶ 100), salicylic acid (1 ∶ 1000), or silver nitrate (1 ∶ 100) may be substituted for the above when they seem to be losing their efficacy.
Ulcers are treated by pyoktannin or silver nitrate solution applied daily with a soft brush. Keratitis will demand atropia. Abnormal tension or staphyloma will demand puncture of the cornea. Improvement may be expected in a few days and recovery in a week or ten days.
VARIOLOUS CONJUNCTIVITIS.
In cow pox, horse pox, and above all sheep pox, the infection sometimes falls on the conjunctiva, giving rise to the formation of the specific eruption on that membrane. The coexistent eruption on other parts of the body (udder, heels, hairy portions of skin) of the specific variolous eruption, furnishes the means of a satisfactory diagnosis. The lesions in the eye develop rapidly to an extreme severity. The lids are swollen and closed, lachrymation abundant, and early mixed with pus, and when exposed the conjunctiva is strongly congested with circumscribed areas of elevation. In cow pox these are circular in form, raised above the surrounding mucosa, having a deep red areola and a paler, flattened center. In sheep pox the elevations have the same general character, but are liable to be more numerous and confluent, and tend to permanent opacities, cicatrices, and perforations of the cornea with loss of the eye. Short of perforation, internal inflammations are not uncommon.
Treatment. At the outset this form may be aborted by the application of silver nitrate solution (2 ∶ 100) or sodium hyposulphite (1½ ∶ 100). Otherwise the local treatment is like that for simple conjunctivitis, cooling astringent and sedative lotions, and if need be, derivatives and eliminants.
APHTHOUS CONJUNCTIVITIS. PHLYCTENULAR CONJUNCTIVITIS.
Closely allied to the last, are those cases in which vesicles appear on the conjunctiva. In exceptional cases these are seen during an epizootic of foot and mouth disease, while in other instances they are associated with eczematous eruptions on other parts of the body, particularly in dogs. In the human subject conjunctival vesicles are often associated with tuberculosis, but this has not been recorded of animals so far. The disease usually makes a rapid eruption, with symptoms of extreme inflammation, and its duration is largely determined by the general disease.
Beside the local treatment by astringent or antiseptic and sedative collyria it may be desirable to correct the hepatic, digestive or other disorder on which the eczema depends, or to improve the general health by a course of bitters or even of cod liver oil.
DIPHTHERITIC CONJUNCTIVITIS IN BIRDS.
Hens, ducks, pigeons. Local inflammation, fibrinous exudate, concreting or becoming cheesy, necrotic, sloughy. Beneath the mucosa red, raw; without epithelium, but excess of lymphoid cells, some only muco-purulent, gravity varies. Grave cases inoculable on birds, mice, rats and rabbits. Bacillus diptheriæ avium, morphology and biology. Pathogenesis. Prevention: exclude germ; cleanliness; pure air; pure food; pure water. Quarantine strange fowls, keep flocks apart, seclude manure, segregate sick, disinfect. Treatment: Antiseptics; boric acid; sublimate: ichthyol; silver nitrate. Infection to man.