Common in dogs. Violent congestion with enlargement of lymph
follicles, or beneath the nictitans, dark red, like millet seed, also
over sclera and lids. Enlarged lymph follicles with excess of lymphoid
cells. Often chronic. Entropion. Infection. Treatment: astringent and
antiseptic lotions: lunar caustic: cocaine and crushing of follicles:
pure air: excision of nictitans.
Fröhner has drawn attention to the frequency of this affection in the
dog, which according to him attacks 40 per cent. of the race. It is
especially liable to begin on the inner surface of the membrana
nictitans, and though it may be at first somewhat hidden by the severe
congestion, yet when that subsides in part, the swollen follicles can be
seen as dark red elevations, the size of a millet seed, when the
nictitans has been everted. It may extend over the sclerotic and
palpebræ. Microscopically these swellings are found to be enlarged lymph
follicles, with an excess of lymphoid cells.
The disease tends to assume a chronic course and may cause entropion and
other troublesome lesions. The diagnosis depends on the recognition of
the swollen follicles, and especially in the depth of the conjunctival
sac.
It is presumably infective yet all Fröhner’s inoculation gave negative
results.
_Treatment._ In the earlier stages the common astringent and antiseptic
lotions may be used. Sublimate, or boric acid lotions are especially
valuable for their antiseptic properties. Should these fail, the eyelid
and nictitans may be inverted and the individual follicles touched with
a fine pencil of lunar caustic, the resulting smarting being lessened by
application of cold water. In case they should still prove obstinate,
the conjunctiva may be cocainized and the follicles individually crushed
with ciliary forceps. Pure out door air is a prime essential in the
treatment.
In extreme cases Fröhner counsels the excision of the membrana
nictitans.