io6 CAKIXE AND FELINE SURGERY 



and, whilst the thin part of the blade of the needle is in the 

 wound, applies gentle pressure upon the eyeball so as to 

 force out a quantity of the aqueous humour. The needle 

 is withdrawn, and the cornea carefully wiped with boric 

 acid solution. Care must be taken to keep the needle 

 in a direction approximately parallel with the cornea, and 

 to avoid injuring the other side of the eyeball, the lens, 

 or the iris. 



Prognosis. — If done antiseptically the operator need not 

 fear a bad result, and the effect on the ulcer, owing to the 

 temporary relief of tension, is sometimes very gratifying. 



Staphyloma. 



Symptoms and Causes. — V>\ this term is understood a pro- 

 trusion of the aqueous humour through a \\ound of the cornea, 

 the ^\■hole bearing some resemblance to a small grape. 



It may occur from a direct injur\- or as a sequel to some 

 debilitating disease. It sometimes gives rise to great pain, 

 and may result in complete loss of the eyeball. 



Treatment. — The first essential is that the patient shall 

 be put in a darkened kennel. The eyeball is cleansed and 

 fomented, some astringent and sedative lotion (such as zinci 

 sulph. grs. i.-ii., liq. opii sed. 7)1., aq. ad 5i.) being applied; 

 or the staphyloma may at once be cauterized with nitrate of 

 silver, and afterwards treated as above. 



In regard to surgical interference, the protruding portion 

 ma}- be ligatured, and for this purpose a thread of fine silk 

 is passed over the staphyloma, drawn sufficienth' tight to act 

 as a ligature without cutting into the protruding part, and 

 left in that position for one or two days, when the staphyloma 

 is excised. 



Previous to the operation the e}'eball is prepared by the 

 application of a solution of some antiseptic and local anaes- 

 thetic. It is often a matter of difficulty in our patients to 

 keep the ligature in position. In ver)- persistent cases benefit 



