TRICHIASIS 503 



determine the prognosis. Unfortunately in many cases this 

 cannot be accurately determined. 



Treatment.— As the eye cannot be completely closed, the 

 cornea is exposed and may become dry and injured. An 

 attempt should be made to correct this if possible. Oily 

 collyria should be instilled in the eye two or three times daily. 

 Massage over the course of the nerve trunk with a stimulat- 

 ing liniment (white liniment, soap liniment) often produces 

 good results. Internal administration of strychnin sulphate 

 (0.001-0.0025 once daily) should be continued for a few 

 days. If no results are obtained from the treatment after a 

 course of two to three weeks further medication should be 

 discontinued. 



Spasm of the Orbicularis Nerve. — Blepharospasm.— 

 Definition.— A tonic or clonic spasm of the eyelids. It may 

 occur periodically or be continuous. In the tonic form the 

 eye is more or less permanently closed and constitutes 

 usually a reflex symptom of a local eye disease, such as kera- 

 titis, panophthalmitis, conjunctivitis, or the presence of 

 foreign bodies in the eye. Naturally the vision is interfered 

 with by the original affection as well as by the spasm of the 

 orbicularis nerve. 



Clonic blepharospasm is observed in dogs following dis- 

 temper when chorea-like movements are a sequel. Rapid 

 contractions and relaxations of the lid (winking) take place. 

 Twitching of the muscles of the face and ear often are asso- 

 ciated with the eye symptoms. 



Treatment.— An examination of the eye should always be 

 made to determine the cause of the condition. If the symp- 

 toms result from local affections, treatment must be applied 

 to relieve the special condition. If no local involvement can 

 be found, treatment is out of the question. Twitching of 

 the eyelid as a sequel to distemper may disappear in a few 

 weeks, or may remain permanently. Treatment has been 

 unsatisfactory. 



TRICHIASIS. 



Definition.— An abnormal position or direction of the eye- 

 lashes. The condition, as a rule, is not observed in animals 



