Wounds of the Conjunctiva. 361 



The clean tip of the finger passed under the lid and nictitating 

 membrane is a safe and effective method. Less effective methods 

 are to pick up the offending body on the point of a lead pencil, or 

 a small, blunt metallic spud, or with a pin's head covered with a 

 clean pocket handkerchief. This may be followed by an anti- 

 septic (boric acid) coUyria, with or without cocaine or morphia. 



WOUNDS OF THE CONJUNCTIVA. 



These occur in all domestic animals, but are especially fre- 

 quent in dogs and cats from scratching with the claws. In 

 clumsy handling of the eyelids, the mucosa is wounded by ragged 

 and uneven nails. Injuries and stings by insects which are at- 

 tracted by the reflection from the eye constitute a specially grave 

 lesion, often proportionate to the nature of the poison instilled. 



Symptoms. There are usually closure of the eyelids, with 

 exudation and thickening of the conjunctiva especially in the 

 vicinity of the wound, a free flow of tears, mingled it may be 

 with blood, and the visible evidence of the lesion on the exposure 

 of the injured part. If the cornea is implicated, even the pupil 

 is contracted, showing photophobia. 



Treatm.ent. Slight noninfected wounds will heal readily under 

 simple astringent collyria, following upon the removal of any 

 cause of mechanical irritation. A solution of corrosive sublimate, 

 I : 5000, or of boric acid, 4 per cent, maybe used. If photopho- 

 bia exists y^ per cent, of atropia sulphate or i per cent, of cocaine 

 hydrochlorate will usually give relief. Extensive wounds may 

 require sutures, and sloughing tissue may be excised with fine 

 curved scissors. Excessive granulations may be removed in the 

 same way. For stings use a potassium permanganate solution 

 (2 grs. to I oz). Violent inflammation may be met by a laxative 

 and by leeching the periorbital region. 



