436 Veterinary Medicine. 



Linear extraction of the lens. The animal and the eye having 

 been prepared ansesthetically, antiseptically, and midriatically as 

 for discission, the lids are fixed with a speculum, the nictitans and 

 the bulb with forceps, a Grafe cataract knife is introduced 

 through the inner side of the cornea, close to its margin and 

 with its point parallel to the front of the iris. The handle is 

 then raised and the cornea detached from the sclera by a series 

 of gentle sawing motions until it has reached a point parallel to 

 the outer margin of the cornea. If the pupil is insufficiently di- 

 lated, the iris should now be seized by forceps drawn out through 

 the corneal wound and snipped off by scissors curved on the flat. 

 Then the cystotome (hooked knife) is introduced with its back 

 turned downward and carried to the further side of the capsule 

 and close to the iris, its cutting point is turned backward and in- 

 serted in the capsule, and drawn across from side to side to make 

 an orifice large enough for the escape of the lens. It is then 

 given a quarter revolution so as to turn the point of the knife 

 downward and is withdrawn from the wound back first. The 

 lower part of the sclera and cornea is now gently pressed with a 

 lens spoon so as to dislodge the lens from the capsule and deliver 

 it through the corneal wound. Counter pressure may be made 

 on the sclera at the upper part of the eye ball. The cornea is 

 now gently stroked with cotton dipped in sublimate solution to 

 pass all blood from the anterior chamber, and render the parts 

 antiseptic. The iris is carefully replaced inside the cornea and 

 any obstinately protruding parts must be excised. The eye is 

 now covered with cotton steeped in a sublimate solution (i : looo) 

 and bandaged without undue pressure, and the animal tied to 

 two sides of the stall so that it is impossible to rub the eye. 



It is well to dress the eye on the second day, and if adhesion of 

 the wound is complete it may be left without bandage at the end 

 of a week or a fortnight. 



Success depends mainly on the avoidance of infection. There- 

 fore every indication of local or general infection should forbid 

 the operation. Any existing infectious disease or any local 

 eczema, conjunctivitis or disease of the lachrymal apparatus 

 should be cured and the region thoroughly disinfected before 

 proceeding. The head should have a good soapy wash, followed 

 by a sponging with sublimate solution (i : looo), th^e conjunctiva 



