The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1912-11-08
epidemic OF PINK
! EYE AND TREATMENT
SUGGESTED BY WHITE
DISTINCT FROM DISEASE OF
THE SAME NAME IN
HORSES.
The SYMPTOMS ARE DESCRIBED
The Animal Must Be Confined In
Some Manner in Order to Proper.
ly Observation-Disclosures Proper
Method to Prevent Spread.
BY Geo. R. White. NJ D., d. V. s.
State Live Stock Insnectnr

Since Pink Eye" in cattle has ap-
peared in certain portions Of Ten
nessee to the extent of becoming
what may properly be termed "epi-
demic FORM" I consider 1t of sufl-
cient Importance to contribute this
short descriptive article for publica-
ton in the daily and weekly papers
of the State for the benefit of the
cattle raisers in general and those
who have "pink-eye" infected cattle
in particular. Pink-eye Is local
infectious disease which attacks the
whole or part of the eyeball. 1t is
technically known and described as
Infectious Lucrative Keratitis.
This disease has been observed in
the cattle herds of Tennessee for
more than thirty years. The none
tary loss which results directly and
indirectly from it's ravages in this
State amounts to many thousands of
dollars annually. 1t is germ dis
ease" and Is highl, contagious. The
period of incuation, which means the
time from exposure to the develop
ment of first symptoms. varies tiom
five to nine days. When one ami
ma lin a herd develops pink-eye,
many other animals nthe same herd
invariably become affected in short
time. have frequently observed
whole carloads of cattle affected
with this disease in the local stock
yards at Nashville.
Pink-eye in cattle and pink-eye in
the horse are two separate and dis
tinct diseases Pink-eye in the horse
| is not aransmissible to cattle, Meth
er is pink-eye in cattle transmissible
to the horse; however, pink-eye in
cattle is readily transmitted to sheep
and goats. hence the presence of
either of the latter species of anil
mails should always be taken into
consideration whenever pink-eye ap-
pears among the cattle on farm.
Symptoms-At first the eye-lids
L are slightly swollen and the animal
closes the eye in the presence of
hght-sunlight Is particularly pain
full. About this time there Is weep.
/ ing of tears from the eye (lacryma-
toni on account Of the intense in.
flamation which is rapidly develop
| ing. This discharge Is at first clear
and watery, but soon becomes ruru.
lent and later muco-purulent The
patients suffer acute pain. hence are
restless and frequently change their
position and location. Their eyelids
become rigidly swollen. Opacity OF
the cornea becomes apparent. This
corneal opacity causes the whole eye
ball to appear whitish or discolored
Almost Invariably one or more ul
GERS develop on the cornear, al
which time the discharge is freely
escaping, consisting OF pus and
blood. These ulcers frequently per
forate the three coats of the cornea
and empty the eyeball of it's con.
tents. OF course when these vital
contents of the eyeball itself escape
through the opening resulting from
an ulcer or any other cause, the re-
suit Is total blindness In the affected
eye or eyes. II the ulcers do not
penetrate or perforate the cornea,
blindness seldom results from the
effects of this disease. It matters
not how opaque the Cornea may be-
come the Opacity will usually dis
appear under proper treatment in a
reasonable time unless perforation
occurs The affected animals sapar-
ate themselves from the remaining
ones in the herd and stand alone for
hours In distant parts Of the rast.
ures. They refuse foor or partake
Of It sparingi yand the flow OF milk
Is rapidly diminished. The coat be.
comes starry and they ematiate rap
idly. Both eyes are usually Involv.
ed.
Prevention Remove all healthy
cattle from the pactures and leave
the diseased ones on the infected
premises. This precaution should
be taken early in the outbreak othe-
erwise all Of the exposed cattle may
have already become infected with
the virus of the disease. Examine
the well cattle daily for evidences
of the frst symptoms, which are
closed eye, slightly swollen I'D and
weeping" II any one or all Of
these symptoms are present, II
shows that the disease is developing
in which event this animal should
at once be placed back with the dis
eased ones. BY keeping the exposed
ones under close observation for
from Ave to nine days all the infect