THE SKINNING OF A HORNED HEAD 147 



for subsequent operation. Leave this part now, and, returning 

 to the top of the head, release the skin around the burr from 

 the back to meet that part already freed, still cutting upwards, 

 and also releasing the skin as much as possible on the crown 

 of the head, until the whole of the skin around one horn has 

 been detached. 



Now lay the head upon its side, and, inserting the left fore- 

 finger into the orbit under the eyelid, skin carefully down upon 

 the finger — the explanation being that the finger will give due 

 notice in the event of the knife going too far. Detach the 

 skin a little more on the top, keeping the point of the knife 

 well down upon the bone, and gradually release the inner skin 

 of the eyelids, which will appear as a whitish membrane both 

 at top and bottom. After about an inch of this skin has 

 appeared, cut it right through, holding the blade of the knife 

 pressed close to the bone of the orbit. This process leaves the 

 actual eyeball within its orbit, whilst it has the effect of leaving 

 a bag of whitish skin inside, which is, of course, the inner skin 

 of the eyelids. At the anterior angle of the orbit, the skin 

 sticks more than at the posterior ; this is due to the skin near 

 this point entering the lachrymal sinus or tear-gland — the little 

 pit in front of the eye. 



Very great care is required now, as the skin appears to 

 stick, not only just within the orbit, but outside, and the point 

 of the knife must be shortened in the hand and kept close down 

 upon the bone, rather excavating that part than actually cut- 

 ting ; at any rate, the cuts must have no upward tendency. 

 Directly this part is free, release the skin still more at the side 

 of, and above, the orbit. 



Probably, before the skin entering the proximal end of the 

 sinus can be released, it will be necessary to free the skin around 

 the burr of the other side, and above and below the other eye, in 

 exactly the same manner, until the bag of each sinus becomes 



