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Corneal lesion models were developed in dogs. In trial 1, the left cornea was scratched under general anesthesia; in trial 2, standardized excisions of corneal tissue were made. All corneal lesions were infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa cultured from a canine eye lesion, and covered for 24 h with a soft contact lens. The slow healing of these lesions, even under local antibiosis (Gentamicin sulfate) enabled the authors to evaluate the effects of drug preparations on healing processes.In two double-blinded trials with these models, a protein-free dialysate from calf blood (SolcoserylR) in an ophthalmic gel preparation(SOG), and its hexosylceramide fraction of Solcoseryl in an ophthalmic gel preparation (FR3) were tested against a placebo ophthalmic gel (POG). Local treatments, thrice daily, commenced two days after setting corneal lesions and lasted 14 days. In trial 1, 20 dogs were treated with either SOG or POG; half of each group received concomitant gentamicin treatment. In trial 2, 30 dogs received SOG, FR3 or POG, together with gentamicin. Treatments with either SOG or FR3 accelerated significantly the repair of corneal lesions, as confirmed by the rapid reduction in areas taking up significantly the repair of corneal lesions, as confirmed by the rapid reduction in areas taking up fluorescin (p < 0.02), reduction or disappearance of blepharospasms and lacrimation (p < 0.02), and the lack of opacities and vascularization (p < 0.05). In the fourfold concentration used, FR3 was consistently more effective than SOG. Antibiosis alone showed little effectiveness.

Progesterone (100 mg) applied 3 days before and 5 days after a single administration of 10 mg flumethasone on Day 270 of pregnancy in sixteen cows and thirteen heifers, successfully prevented premature parturition which was otherwise promptly induced by the corticoid. At this dose level and timing, progesterone interfered significantly with the sequence of events preceding, accompanying and following parturition. As a result, preparation of presentation of the fetus for parturition was either delayed or prevented, dystocia was frequent, the percentage of stillborn calves was significantly elevated, calf viability was impaired and placental retention, which occurs in about 80% of corticoid-induced parturitions, was not influenced.