CHAPTER II 



SYSTEMATIC EXAMINATION OF THE EYE 



The symptoms of pathologic conditions in animals' 

 eyes are objective, and, in order to be able to distinguish 

 them, one must be famihar with the normal conditions. 



Examine normal eyes at every opportunity; observe 

 the particular size and shape of the anterior portion in 

 animals of different kinds; see that the lids, iris, con- 

 junctiva, etc., are comparatively uniform in size, shape, 

 color, and transparency. If one lid droops more than the 

 other or is completely closed, it indicates a partial or 

 complete paralysis of the muscle that elevates the Hd 

 —the levator palpebrarum. If the lid fails to cover the 

 cornea when the Hd is relaxed, the orbicularis palpebrarum 

 is involved. Should the lid be closed and raised with 

 much resistance, a spasm of the orbicularis exists, pro- 

 duced by the presence of a foreign body or from some 

 other reflex cause. Examine the border of the lids to see 

 that the lashes are properly directed, for if they turn 

 inward they act the same as a foreign body. The 

 puncta lacrimalia must lie in close apposition to the 

 eyeball, otherwise they fail to perform their function 

 properly and epiphera will be the result. Projections 



29 



