354 Veterinary Medicine. 



case, a distension of the sac to over two inches in breadth, and 

 lYl inches long. To the swelling there is soon added conjunctival 

 inflammation, closure of the puncta b}- swelling and the escape of 

 all tears over the face. Suppuration supervenes in the sac, and in 

 the larger animals the pent up pus often makes its way outw^ard, 

 causing destructive ulceration of the walls of the canaliculi and 

 puncta, or of the walls of the sac, the skin, or even the subjacent 

 bone. In this way fistula results. Caries of the bone and pene- 

 tration of the molar alveoli may ensue. (Girard, Leblanc). 



Treatment. The first object must be to .secure a free drainage 

 into the nose. The evacuation of the sac by compression having 

 been accomplished, an astringent solution may be injected through 

 the nasal opening of the lachrymal duct. If the canal is per- 

 vious the .sac will be re-filled and will swell out as before. The 

 injection may be 0.5 per cent, sulphate of zinc, i per cent, ace- 

 tate of lead, o 3 per cent, nitrate of silver, i per cent, tannic 

 acid, 2 per cent, boric acid, or 0.02 per cent, corrosive sublimate. 

 Cocaine may be added in the proportion of 5 per cent. The in- 

 jection may be repeated thrice a day at first, then twice, and 

 finally once as the catarrh subsides. 



If the injection fails to reach the sac, thoroughly sterilized, 

 flexible probes may be used, increasing the size as they can be 

 passed without too great pressure. 



Or the puncta and canaliculi may be injected as in the human 

 subject, the conjunctiva having been first anaesthetized by co- 

 caine, or general ether or chloroform anse.sthesia having been in- 

 duced. The slitting of the puncta and canaliculi may be re- 

 sorted to, as .spoken of under atresia. 



The frequent passage of a sound is usually resorted to, and a 

 stilet may even be worn, but there is always danger of resulting 

 thickening and narrowing of the duct, and, if healing can be se- 

 cured without this measure, it is to be preferred. 



