FISTULA OF THE EYE-PIT. 151 



ticaling" it, he put it out of his mouth again, amassed into pellets. 

 A few days after this effect of the mercury, the cornea began to 

 lose its white aspect, and in places to shew signs of becoming 

 bright again. In short, from this time amendment commenced, 

 and progressively spread until every part had regained its wonted 

 pellucidity and healthfulness : the horse, now old, continuing up 

 to this day, I believe, in the enjoyment of his full vision. 



FISTULA OF THE EYE-PIT. 



Of this singular affection I never saw a case myself; but there 

 stands one on record, and one of a truly formidable description, that 

 occurred to M. Merle, of Pezenas, who has related it in the Journal 

 des Vettrinaires clu Midi, from which it was translated into The 

 Veterinarian for 1839. 



"On the 21st of May, 1830," says M. Merle, '^ was desired 

 to examine a bay horse, six years old, that during the last fifteen 

 days had fed with considerable difficulty. It had a large tumour, 

 which occupied the space between the eye and the forehead on the 

 left side. I determined to lance it at the spot corresponding with 

 the pit of the eye, and a great quantity of the spikes of brome- 

 grass (Bromus hordereceus) immediately protruded. I cleared 

 them away, and threw in some detersive injections; but, on ac- 

 count of the direction of the fistula, neither the injected fluid nor 

 the suppurative matter could escape, and it was necessary to absorb 

 them by means of a piece of sponge. I, however, assured myself of 

 the depth of the fistula by means of a gum elastic sound, which, 

 being introduced above, was gradually pushed into the cavity of 

 the mouth. I then passed a straight sound, which I brought out 

 at the right commissure of the lips. I attached to one end of this 

 probe a long piece of tow, terminating in a point, and moistened 

 with tincture of aloes. With some management I introduced it 

 into the whole of the fistulous passage. 



" On the following day we removed this pledget, in order to intro- 

 duce another, charged with an active digestive ; but in the act of 

 mastication it got between the molars, and was broken, and it was 

 necessary to renew it every two or three days. If we neglected 



