35
C. Baillet, Randanne, etc. It is more common than that of the horse, at least, in the south
of France ; in summer and autumn it is most frequently met with.
This author states that it differs in its length, which is in the male from 10 mm.
to 14 mm. and in the female 20 mm. to 24 mm. as well as by the dimensions of the
spiculæ of the male, one of which measures 115Μ. by 10 μ. in diameter, the other 750 μ.
by 4 μ.
The symptoms of this conjunctivities are the same as in the horse. We can see where
the worms crawl on the surface of the globe of the eye, and glide between the folds of
mucous-membrane, nearly always towards the inner angle of the eye-lids; often they interlace
with each other into a small bundle, which is usually lodged beneath the membrana nictitans.
If the inflammation extends to the cornea, it may result in more or less deep and dangerous
ulceration.
When the worms are numerous,—and Guittard says he has seen more than 100 in one
case—, there is difficulty in extracting them all with the finger. We may then proceed as
Randanne successfully did ; separate the eye-lids by means of flat retractors or a blepharostat,
then inject as much as possible on the cornea and beneath the membrana nictitans, of a
watery dilution of tincture of camphor. The worms are in this way washed out of the eye,
and a few applications of astringent lotion complete the cure. It may be useful to pass
nitrate of silver lightly over the corneal ulcerations.
In the case which occurred at the Laboratory, the patient was a small plains' bull
which had been stationed at Muktesar, 7,500 feet elevation, since June 1897. During
the latter end of October and November, this animal passed through a smart attack of
Rinderpest, and, although it recovered, was considerably emaciated. On December 4th,
1897, this animal was noticed to be suffering from Epiphora, photophobia, and slight opacity
of the left cornea. The eye was carefully examined, but no parasites were observed behind
the membrana nictitans. Daily observations were made with a view to ascertaining whether
any filariæ invaded the cornea. The above-mentioned symptoms continued to increase, until
on the 8th December the whole cornea was opaque.
On this date a filaria was observed wriggling across the cornea and was forthwith removed.
On the following morning the epiphora had completely disappeared; there was less photobia,
and the opacity had slightly decreased in amount. Within two days only the lower segment
of the cornea presented a certain amount of opacity. This condition still persisted on the 20th,
when a second worm was observed and removed, followed by a third on the 22nd and a fourth
on the 23rd December. On January 12th, 1898, only a milkiness of the cornea at the lower
margin was observable, but on the 19th of the same month it was found to be again increasing,
although no nematodes were discovered. During the cold weather, which supervened at the
commencement of February, the animal succumbed. At the autopsy no worm was discovered,
but a mass of inflammatory material, resembling that in which the filariæ are generally entan-
gled, was found far back between the folds of the palpebral and ocular conjunctivæ. This
material may have produced the irritation, and so brought about the opacity depicated in the
Illustration.
The following are the general and special characteristics of the F. lachrymalis :-—
Body white in colour, cylindrical, narrowed towards either extremity. Integument finely
striated, transversely. Mouth small, terminal and nude, diameter in the male 0.0254 mm.
and in the female 0.0288 mm. Osophagus straight ; lower extremity slightly bulbous.
Intestine tortuous. Anus almost terminal.
Male.—Mean length 8.208 mm. The tail is curved in the form of an arch, the tip
touches the integument of the body at the caudal extremity. Two spicules, the longer 3.5
times the length of the shorter one.
Female.—Mean length 10.007 mm. The tail is almost straight, tip conical. Genital
opening about 0.3100 mm. from the mouth. Ova, shape that of ellipsoid. Uterus packed with
ova in all degrees of development. Free embryos measure from 180 to 200 mm. in length.