Bruises and Wounds of the Orbit. 35 1 



tached segment, or its sharp edge may be felt, through the skin, 

 or by the sterilized finger introduced into the orbit. In case of 

 a penetrating or stab wound, which cannot be followed by the 

 finger, it may be followed by an aseptic probe and any fracture 

 recognized. The conjunctival sac must be first thoroughly 

 washed out with an antiseptic lotion, as the introduction of any 

 septic germs into the osseous wound is likely to cause a danger- 

 ous infection or abscess. 



Treatment. Simple, slight fractures with blunt instruments 

 are treated by rest and cooling, disinfectant lotions. If foreign 

 bodies or detached particles of bone are found in the wound they 

 should be extracted. Shot that are difi&cult to find, may be left, 

 as they are often aseptic and tend to become encapsuled. Should 

 they cause abscess they will usually be found in the pus sac and 

 may then be removed. Displaced bones may often be replaced 

 by the finger in the orbit. Sometimes they can be best reached ' 

 by trephining the frontal or maxillary sinus and introducing a 

 lever through the cavity (Hendrickx). If the sinus has been 

 involved it must be opened in any case. Cadiot advises bandages 

 impregnated with black pitch to fix the bones in certain cases. 

 Antiseptic washes (sublimate i : 5000) and antiseptic cotton 

 packing are demanded for all wounds. 



BRUISES AND WOUNDS OF THE ORBIT. 



These may come from the same causes as fractures and though 

 less violent may occasion inflammation which involves the eye 

 or even the brain with fatal results. Thus in horses it has 

 been a cause of infective inflammation, with a fatal extension 

 (Robellet) ; in cattle a similar inflammation has extended to the 

 cerebral meninges and caused death (Ivcblanc), and in dogs an 

 advance to the eyeball threatens its destruction (Mbller). Short 

 of this necrosis is not uncommon (Rey). 



Treatment. This does not differ materially from that de- 

 manded by penetrating wounds with fracture. A perfect cleans- 

 ing and antisepsis of the wound is the first demand. A solution 

 of boric acid (4 per cent.) or of mercuric chloride (i : 5000) 



