DISLOCATION OF THE EYEBALL. 563 



DISLOCATION OF THE EYEBALL. 



This is not at all an uncommon occurrence in dogs, par- 

 ticularly in those beautiful-eyed ones, the King Charles spaniel. 

 The cause is accidental, a fight with another dog, or more 

 commonly with a cat. The eye is actually " scratched out," 

 and hangs pendulous on the cheek. In all such cases the eye 

 must be returned, and, wonderful to relate, the after usefulness 

 of the organ is not always impaired. 



The method of returning the eye is as follows : — After wash- 

 ing away all extraneous matters, dirt, blood, &c., with tepid 

 water, let an assistant, who is to stand behind the dog, open 

 the eyelids as far apart as possible, then the operator is to press 

 gently, but firmly, upon each side of the anterior aspect of the 

 dislocated globe with the balls of his thumbs until the globe is 

 replaced within the orbit. But should such pressure prove 

 ineffectual, the outer angle of the eyelid is to be divided with 

 a pair of scissors or bistoury — a small snip is sufficient — when 

 the eye can be replaced without difficulty ; the incision in the 

 lids being afterwards drawn together by a single suture. It 

 must be borne in mind that in reducing dislocation of the eye, 

 extreme pressure must be avoided, or the eye will be irretriev- 

 ably damaged, and that pressure is to be exerted more upon the 

 sides than upon the front of the globe, for pressure on the front 

 will flatten it, and cause it to bulge laterally. 



REMOVAL OF THE EYEBALL. 



Except in malignant disease, it is not necessary to remove 

 the whole of the eye ; if the cornea is removed, the humours, 

 lens, &c., escape, the eye will collapse, and its various coats 

 become adherent. Eemoval of the eye is sometimes necessary 

 in dogs suffering from irritating staphyloma or incurable 

 ulcers on the cornea, and in the horse after severe injuries to 

 the eye, resulting in permanent tumefaction and enlargement 

 of the whole organ, preventing closure of the eyelids, and 

 subjecting the animal to much pain from the irritation of dust 

 or other foreign bodies. 



EXAMINATION OF THE EYE. 

 An ordinary examination of the eye is made by turning the 



