334 Veterinayy Medicine. 



by knocking the head against soHd objects that he failed to 

 see on account of the bhnds. Again the injury will come from 

 running against prongs of bushes or trees, or of stump fences. 

 Occasionally a blow with the horn of an ox or cow is the cause, 

 but this is much more frequent with the bovine races. Then 

 again gunshot wounds are found in all animals. In sheep the 

 eyelids sometimes suffer from bites of dogs, while in dogs and 

 cats, the teeth and claws are the main causes of injury. These 

 smaller animals also suffer from brutal blows and kicks. 



Nature. Wounds of the eyelids almost invariably affect the 

 upper lid, because of its extra size and prominence. Sometimes 

 one commissure or the lower lid is the injured part. 



Clean incised wounds are rare, while lacerations with or with- 

 out contusions are the common experience. The laceration often 

 extends through the free margin of the lid, and then to one 

 side, mostly the outer, in a direction more or less parallel to the 

 tarsus. The result is that the detached flap drops downward 

 exposing a greater or less portion of the bulb covered with blood. 

 The conjunctiva, the cornea, the sclerotic or iris may be impli- 

 cated in the lesion in different cases, so that such wounds are of 

 the most varied degree of gravity. If, however, the lesion is 

 confined to the lid, and in the absence of absolute detachment of 

 the flap, or severe contusion, a good repair may be confidently 

 hoped for. The vascularity and reparatory powers of the ej'elid 

 are unusuall}^ great, and tlie looseness of the skin, connective tis- 

 sue, mucosa, and even the nuiscles is such that they do not draw 

 injuriousl}^ upon the edges of the wound to disturb the process 

 of cicatrisation. If the two opposing ends of the divided tarsal 

 cartilage are kept in accurate opposition, the elasticity of- this 

 structure serves to preserve the even contour of the palpebral 

 margin, and the adhesion or granulation process between the edges 

 of the wound, soon becomes firm enough to prevent further dis- 

 placement. Even when one half of the eyelid is torn loose, remain- 

 ing attached onl}' by a narrow portion, reunion without any un- 

 sightly distortion is not to be despaired of. In case of a mere vertical 

 laceration on the other hand, the case is very simple and hopeful. 

 Even when a portion of a lid has been completely torn off and 

 lost, the loose textures of the remaining part, often appear to 

 stretch in the process of healing .so that a fairl}' serviceable. 



