48 



HYDROPTHALMUS. 



This is an enlargement of the eye ball due mainly to an 

 increased secretion of the aqueous humor, as in glaucoma. 

 Sometimes the eye ball becomes twice its normal size; the 

 cornea is generally so opaque that one cannot see the inner 

 parts of the eye. In consequence of the enlarging of the 

 eye ball the attachments of the lens are partially or entirely 

 torn loose and the lens may float in the vitreous or the aque- 

 ous humor. The enlargement of the eye may appear sud- 

 denly, in twenty-four hours; or may advance slowly. Seldom 

 is it relieved by treatment. Occasionally the cornea is rup- 

 tured and the eye ball lost. In the early stage, the cornea 

 may be punctured, thus allowing the extra amount of aqueous 

 secretion to escape; this has, in some cases, proven benefi- 

 cial ; however, it cannot be done by the novice or the inex- 

 perienced. 



DISLOCATION OF EYE BALL— EXOTHALMDS. 



The eye-ball niiay be pushed out of its socket by tumors 

 that originate behind the ball; sometimes by bleeding, 

 from deep penetrating injuries, congestion of blood vessels; 

 by horns of cattle, by biting and scratching among dogs and 

 cats, also by dislocation of the lower jaw in the smaller ani- 

 mals. Occasionally an animal has its eye dislocated by hav- 

 ing it crowded out with a blunt stick or club in the hands of a 

 cruel boy or attendant. If the eye is not lacerated, bruised 

 or seriously injured and the optic nerve is not torn, the ball 

 may be returned to its cavity and a compress bandage applied 

 over it to keep it in place. This should be done as early as 

 possible or the swelling of the parts around the eye will 

 prevent returning it to its proper place. However, the 

 outer angle of the eye may be divided if necessary to 

 admit the eye ball to the socket. Should the eye ball be 



