Cataract. Opacity of the Lens or Its Capsule. 435 



carefully washed out with the same and a bandage damp with it 

 applied over the eye. This bandage is only removed on the 

 operating table. Cloths dampened with the solution are laid on 

 the face around the eye, the eye is cocainized with a 5 per cent, 

 solution applied at intervals of one minute and when quite insen- 

 sible the operation is commenced. The greatest care must be 

 taken to render the hands of operator and assistants and all in- 

 struments thoroughly aseptic. The instruments are taken from 

 a 4 per cent, solution of carbolic acid and placed in water (which 

 has just been boiled) until needed, and to wipe the eye or make 

 any application, sterilized cotton only is used and never touched 

 to the eye more than once. A sublimate bandage is placed over 

 the eye and worn for ten days or a fortnight. Then if the cor- 

 neal incision is healed and pale it may be left off. The pupil 

 should be kept dilated by a few drops of atropia daily for this 

 length of time. 



Any occurrence of iritis or choroiditis usually indicates infec- 

 tion and must be treated on general principles, but with especial 

 reference to disinfection, and if this cannot be secured the eye 

 will be almost inevitably lost. 



In case of renewed opacity through thickening of the capsule 

 an aperture must be torn in that membrane by the same method 

 as in discission. This is commonly known as needling. It must 

 be conducted under the same antiseptic precautions as in ex- 

 traction. 



Suction. This is oidy applicable to a lens which has become 

 fluid as well as opaque. It consists in withdrawing the liquid 

 lens through a hollow needle. 



DISLOCATION OF THE LENS. 



Congenital ; acquired ; traumatic, softening of suspensory ligament : 

 hinge motion, lens drops behind iris, protrudes through pupil, cataract. 

 Apparent increased depth of anterior chamber, tremulous iris, projecting 

 edge of lens like black ring. Treatment : extraction. 



Dislocation of the lens may be congenital, or acquired. In the 

 latter ca.se it is explained by a traumatism or a liquefaction of the 



