414 DISEASES OF THE EYES 



of -u-arm water should run over the eye to carry off the blood and 

 facilitate the operation. 



Pterygium. — By this we mean a more or less triangular proliferation 

 of the connective tissues containing numerous blood vessels and branching 

 over the cornea toward the centre. This growth is very loosely connected 

 with the corneal structure and can be removed by means of caustics or 

 by an operation; the animal is narcotized or the eye cocained, the growth 

 seized by means of a pair of curved forceps, raised from the surface of the 

 globe, and carefully dissected out, and the hemorrhage controlled by 

 astringents. 



Injuries to the Cornea. — It is not uncommon to observe injuries to 

 the cornea of dogs where the epithelium is slightly injuried or where there 

 is a deep penetration of the membrane or it is entirely perforated, such 

 as injuries from cats' claws or sticks mischievously pushed into the eye 

 or from the lash of a whip. Immediately after the injury we observe a 

 great fear of light, closing of the eye, and copious tears. Wounds which 

 have not entirely perforated the cornea are rapidly followed by an 

 opacity and swelling in the neighborhood of the injury. When the 

 membrane is perforated the symptoms and results are very similar to 

 ulceration. Superficial or very small wounds which penetrate deeply 

 heal ver}' quickly after a few days, leaving scarcely any opacity. This, 

 of course, must be expected in wounds that have been caused by some 

 object that was clean, while septic large wounds, caused by some unclean 

 object, frequently produce great irritation, and penetrating ulceration 

 results, ending in panophthalmia and destruction of the eye. 



The therapeutic treatment of wounds of the cornea is identical 

 with that of corneal ulceration. 



Desiccative Keratitis. Xerosis Corneae. — This is a particularly rare 

 condition described by Bayer that occurs as a result of acute distemper; 

 it is seen particularly in pugs. The animal has a wide open staring 

 look of the eye, the cornea is dull and lustreless, there being no reflection 

 in it; the conjvmctiva is tumefied, corrugated and deep purple-red in color 

 and covered with a thick tenacious secretion. After a short time the 

 cornea commences to slough small portions of its substance, and it 

 finally becomes reddish-brown in color. The treatment consists in 

 moist fomentations and compresses of boracic acid solution, followed 

 by astringents such as acetate of lead or sulphate of zinc solutions. 

 If the acute symptoms of distemper have not shown themselves they 

 are apt to appeal- shortly after this condition is developed. 



Corneal Spots or Opacities. Maculae Corneae. Leucoma. — By this 

 is meant more or less turbidity or opacity of the cornea, due to injuries, 

 ulcerative keratitis and certain opacities that are not accompanied by 

 fever or other phenomena. These spots may vary from complete 



