The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1919-07-24
HOW TO DETECT AND CURE
PINkEYE IN CATTLE
By NJ. Jacobs. v. N. D.,
ctnAn Nntn,.snnt..nn

State Veterinarian
A disease Of considerable eeonom
ic Importance to the cattle interests
Of the state is what is commonly
termed "Pinkeye" in cattle and tech
nically known as Infectious Keratitis
in cattle. Reports which have come
to this office during the past two OF
three weeks indicate that pinkeye is
more or less prevalent among cattle
throughout the state at this time, but
this is not unusual, as it is principal
+ y warm weather disease, but at
the same time cases do occur with
less frequency during the winter
Cause
Pinkeye is an infectious (due to
GERM eye disease and the rapid
ity with which it spreads through a
herd in many instances gives strong
indication that it is contagious. It
has recently been reported by those
who have been carrying on some in
vestigational work on this disease
that a causative germ has been iso-
lated and that they were able to re-
produce the disease upon incubation.
1t should also be remembered that
pinkeye in cattle is an entirely diff
ferent disease from what is termed
pinkeye in horses.
There are some who are under
the impression that this eye trouble
in cattle is directly due to the irri-
tatinp effect of the sunlight during
hot weather. This, however, is a
mistake; but on the other hand, on ac-
count Of its somewhat irritating eff
feet, it may act as a secondary
cause in. SO far that it may make
the eye more susceptible to the infec-
ton. A consideration of this latter
point becomes quite important when
treating cases of this kind.
Symptoms
The symptoms of pinkeye in cattle
are quite characteristic, beginning
with marked watering from the eyes,
more u less swelling of the eyelids,
which are hell partly or completely
closed, especially during the day while
the animal is out in the open when
the sun is shining, the effect of which
is at this time very painful. The
discharge may gradually become
flocculent or even contain an admiX-
ture of pus if the attack is very Sc
we're. The eyeball itself becomes very
much inflamed and the cornea, which
at the beginning has a reddish tint,
may now become almost white or yell
lowish in color, and the animal is
now unable to see out of the badly
affected eye. In many cases ulcers
form on the cornea which at times
result in perforation followed by a.
protrusion or even a discharge of
the contents of the anterior cavity
of the eyeball. While both eyes are
affected, there may be a diff
ference in the severity. On account
of it's painful condition there is usual
ly some systemic disturbance result
ing in loss Of flesh and in cows
distinct falling off in milk secretions.
The death rate from pinkeye is very
small, but complicated cases do at
times result fatally.
Course
The length of time which it takes
for this disease to run its course de-
ponds upon the severity of the at
tack. If there are no complications,
such as ulcers, perforations, ETC., it
is only matter of from 10 days to
two weeks until the animal has re-
covered; otherwise it may be long
drawn out over a period of several
weeks and may then result in de-
fective eye or even partial or COM
plete blindness in one or both eyes.
Treatment
The treatment of pinkeye in cattle
is comparatively simple if attempted
at the beginning. On account Of its
contagiousness, the affected
cattle should be isolated from the re-
mainder of the herd as soon as it is
recognized and kept in a dark stall
during the day and turned out at
night, in order to avoid an aggra-
walton of the trouble from the irrita-
ton Of the sunlight. Use either a
saturated solution A per cent? of
boracic acid or mild ordinary salt
water solution Zone tablespoonful ta-
bic salt to one pint water) as an eye
wash applied directly to the eyeball
two or three times a day. In more
severe cases the use of the eye wash
may be followed by the application
Of an eye ointemnt containing 2 per
cent yellow oxide of mercury, also
applied directly to the eyeball. Iol
control the flies, which are verv an
noying in these cases, and to over
come tie irritation Of the skin in the
region of the eyes, it is well to APP
ply 10 per cent Ichthyol ointment
over the upper eyelid and skin just
below the eyes.
Some cases need surgical treat
ment, and should be submitted to
some one who is qualified to do work
of this kind.