DISEASES OF THE EYE AND ITS APPENDAGES 111 



of securing this fixity in the eye of the lower animals except by putting 

 them under the influence of an anaesthetic, and anyone desiring to examine 

 the eye is required to train his own eyes to follow the movements of the 

 organ, so that he may keep the part which he wishes to see in view during 

 the time that it is in constant motion. 



DISEASES OF THE EYELIDS 



An account of the different diseases to which the organ of vision is 

 liable may conveniently deal, in the first instance, with the eyelids, which 

 are frequently implicated in one way or another in disease or injury affect- 

 ing the globe. 



Blows inflicted intentionally or by accident are the most common form 

 of injury to the eyelids, and it is often the case that the inflammation, with 

 swelling and redness of the lining membrane extending over the front of 

 the eye and reflected on the insides of the lids, are the only symptoms 

 which result from the blow, unless it has been sufficiently severe to cause 

 a contused wound. Exactly the same kind of symptoms will be present 

 when the inflammation is the result of a cold, or febrile condition of 

 the system, or of the introduction of an irritating substance under the lids, 

 and it is therefore impossible to be quite certain whether the inflammation, 

 swelling, and discharge of tears observed are due to one or other of the 

 causes named unless there is some history to assist the diagnosis. 



Any manual examination of the diseased eye naturally excites the 

 animal's fears, particularly should he be unable to see the operator who 

 is engaged in manipulating the part, and unless there is some reason to 

 suspect that the irritation is caused by a foreign body which has entered 

 the eye, it is better to leave the diseased parts- alone until the inflam- 

 mation is diminished. 



The first step in the treatment should be to place the animal in a 

 position where there is only a subdued light entire exclusion of light is 

 not necessary. Fomentations of warm water should then be applied, by 

 squeezing the water from a sponge laid on to the skin above the injured 

 organ, or by fixing a piece of soft rag in such a position that the water 

 may run from it over the swollen eye, the least pressure to the diseased 

 parts being avoided. As the inflammation subsides, the lids will gradually 

 open and assume their normal character, and it will now be easy to see if 

 the injury has affected the transparent cornea, Sometimes a white line 

 running obliquely across the front of the eye will suggest a cut from the 

 lash of a whip; in other cases there may be a general opacity over the 

 whole of the transparent structure, and in other instances the symptoms 



