Bruises and Wounds of the Orbit. 349 



tached segment, or its sharp edge may be felt, through the skin, 

 or by the sterilized finger introduced into the orbit. In case 

 •of a penetrating or stab wound, which cannot be followed by 

 the finger, it may be followed by an aseptic probe and an}- 

 fracture recognized. The conjunctival sac must be first thor- 

 oughl}' washed out with an antiseptic lotion, as the introduction 

 of any septic germs into the osseous wound, is likely to cause 

 a dangerous infection or abscess. 



Treatnient. Simple, slight fractures with blunt instruments 

 are treated b}' rest and cooling, disinfectant loticMis. If foreign 

 bodies or detached particles of bone are found in the wound they 

 should be extracted. Shot that are difficult to find, may be left, as 

 they are often aseptic and tend to become encapsuled. Should 

 they cause abscess they will usually be found in the pus sac and 

 may then be removed. Displaced bones may often be re- 

 placed b}^ the finger in the orbit. Sometimes the}' can be best 

 reached by trephining the frontal or maxillary sinus and intro- 

 ducing a lever through the cavity (Hendrickx). If the sinus 

 has been involved it must be opened in any case. Cadiot advises 

 bandages impregnated with black pitch to fix the bones in cer- 

 tain cases. Antiseptic washes (sublimate i : 5000) and antisep- 

 tic cotton packing are demanded for all wounds. 



BRUISES AND WOUNDS OF THE ORBIT, 



These may come from the same causes as fractures and though 

 less violent may occasion inflammation which involves the eye 

 or even the brain with fatal results. Thus in horses it has been 

 a cause of infective inflammation, with a fatal extension 

 (Robellet) ; in cattle a similar inflammation has extended to the 

 cerebral meninges and caused death (Eeblanc), and in dogs an 

 advance to the eyeball threatens its destruction (Moller). Short 

 of this necrosis is not uncommon (Rey). 



Treatment. This does not differ materiall}' from that de- 

 manded by penetrating wounds with fracture. A perfect cleans- 

 ing and antisepsis of the wound is the first demand. A solution 

 of boric acid (4 per cent.) or of mercuric chloride (i : 5000) 



