This term is applied to inflammation of the mucous membrane which lines the inner surface of the eyelids, and is reflected over the front of the eyeball. This membrane is called the Conjunctiva.

Ophthalmia is a common disease amongst dogs. It may be produced by external violence, such as blows, bites, etc.; or by the irritation of some foreign body, as dirt, dust, thorns, etc.; or by wounds, caused by scratches from cats, thorns, etc. It is also caused by exposure to damp, cold weather, or to extreme changes of temperature, or when a dog plunges into cold water after violent exertion. Another cause is disorder of the digestive organs, the mucous membrane of the eye sympathizing with that of the stomach. Blaine states that he has seen pointers, setters, and spaniels, after hunting in cover, suddenly seized with ophthalmia in both eyes, "from some poisonous herb." It would be interesting to ascertain what this herb is that so soon inflames healthy eyes.

Symptoms

The symptoms of simple ophthalmia are intolerance of strong light, closure of the eyelids, which are more or less swollen, and constant flow of tears. The lids, though closed, are always in motion, as if the dog wished to open them, but dare not, owing to the pain caused by the admission of light. On separating the lids, the conjunctiva lining the lids and covering the sclerotic is found of a bright scarlet colour. There is a discharge of matter which glues the swollen eyelids together.

In some cases, the inflammation, at first limited to the conjunctiva, extends to the other structures of the eye. In addition to the foregoing symptoms, enlarged bloodvessels may be seen as red lines extending over the cornea; the pupil is blocked up by a whitish looking exudation, and the aqueous humour presents a reddish hue.

When the cornea is seriously implicated, an ulcer appears in its centre. The ulceration either remains stationary or increases in depth and width until the cornea is penetrated and the aqueous humour escapes. Then rank, tender granulations spring up from the ulcer, and rapidly growing, protrude through the lids. As Youatt concludes, "Under proper treatment, or by a process of nature, these granulations cease to sprout; they begin to disappear; the ulcer diminishes; it heals; scarcely a trace of it can be seen; the cornea recovers its perfect transparency, and vision is not in the least degree impaired." This description applies to that form of ophthalmia which so frequently accompanies an attack of distemper. It differs from the other form in being preceded by an early and somewhat copious formation of matter, and involving the deeper-seated structures of the eye. Sometimes both eyes are attacked; generally only one.

An injected state of the vessels of the conjunctiva exists in several diseases as a symptom, and may be accepted as indicative of the mildness or severity of such diseases, and of the probability of recovery, or the reverse. Thus, in distemper and pneumonia, if the conjunctiva is highly injected, the major disease is severe, and may be fatal. It is said that when the eye is very red in cases of epilepsy, the dog has little chance of recovery.

Meyrick describes "another and totally distinct kind of ophthalmia " in the following words: - "A slight redness of the whites of both eyes, with inflammation of the lids; pustules, terminating in very small ulcers, form round the ball of the eye; there is no thick discharge as in common ophthalmia, but the eye waters copiously, particularly when it is touched or examined." These symptoms are generally observed in mangy, or weakly dogs, badly fed and housed.

Mayhew states that the abuse of purgatives, by weakening the digestive organs, will produce a state of the eyes resembling "all the symptoms of distemper, even to the circular ulcer in the centre of the organ."

Treatment

In the treatment of the simple ophthalmia, the first thing to do is to find out the cause, and if possible remove it. If only one eye be affected, there is a probability that the inflammation has been excited by injury or by the irritation of some foreign body. The eyelids are to be opened and carefully examined by being turned inside out on the handle-end of a teaspoon; and foreign bodies, if present, should be gently removed. If thorns, etc., are found embedded or fixed in the cornea, they must be scooped out by the point of a lancet. Perhaps a few irregular lashes, or even one, may have set up the inflammation.

When the conjunctiva covering the cornea is lacerated or a minute portion of it taken off, there is great impatience of light and watering of the eye. Much relief is obtained by instilling two or three drops of castor, or of olive oil between the lids.

In all cases of bruises or wounds of the eyes, or eyelids, with or without ophthalmia, and however occasioned, the remedy is Arnica lotion, * frequently applied.

As a rule, the dog should be placed in a darkened room during the height of the inflammation: but when the ophthalmia seizes a dog of a weakly habit, light and exercise are indispensable to the improvement of the general health, and also of the eyes. In all cases, the dog-house should be perfectly clean.

* See Appendix.

Hot fomentations give great comfort to the dog by relieving pain, during the early stage of the disease. When the eyelids stick together owing to the adhesive character of the secreted mucus, occasional anointing with olive oil will do good.

At first the diet should be rather low, but when the strength fails, or the dog is weak at first, or when the ophthalmia comes on during an attack of distemper, then nourishing food must be supplied with a liberal hand. Nothing is so sure to aid the disease in doing permanent injury to the eye as giving poor food. Sloughing of the cornea is frequent in starved dogs.

A solution of nitrate of silver is a popular remedy in ophthalmia, in some cases of which it is a most valuable and homoeopathic specific. Yet when used in improper cases nothing can do so much harm. It is in simple ophthalmia, unconnected with disease elsewhere, - that is, when the inflammation is limited to the conjunctiva, - that this local remedy acts with the greatest promptness and success. One grain of the nitrate should be dissolved in an ounce of distilled water, and the solution dropped into the eye twice a-day. When the inflammation implicates the cornea or the deeper tissues, this remedy will do no good, but certain harm. When the cornea is ulcerated, nitrate of silver will cause the ball to burst; and the aqueous humour will then escape, and fungus growth will spring up.

In simple ophthalmia it is quite unnecessary to do what the ancient practitioners advise; viz., "bleed, blister, and keep low;" whilst in other forms of the disease, these measures can do nothing but irreparable mischief. In these days it is superfluous to condemn such an exploded remedy as the seton.

The best remedies for ophthalmia are the following: -

Aconitum * when there are febrile excitement; sensitiveness to light; profuse secretion of tears and of matter; and redness of the eyes.

Belladonna is another valuable remedy. It is indicated when the eyes are extremely sensitive to light, the vessels of the cornea and sclerotic injected, and when the inflammation has extended to the iris.

Mercurius when the conjunctiva is injected, with copious secretion of tears at first, and of thick mucus and pus subsequently; ulcers on the cornea, pustules round the eyes and on the margins of the eyelids; agglutination of the lids.

Euphrasia when there is a very abundant secretion of mucus and tears; swelling and sticking together of the lids; superficial redness; and great intolerance of light.

* For the dose, etc., of these medicines, see "Introductory Remarks".

Nux vomica when the inflammation appears to depend upon derangement of the stomach, and when there are symptoms of catarrh, such as obstruction of, and discharge from, the nose.

Sulphur is indicated when the disease attacks mangy dogs, and when the cornea is opaque or ulcerated.

Arsenicum when the inflammation arises from cold, and the discharge from the eyes is of an acrid and corrosive nature.