Artificial Eye. 451 



by chloroform or ether, or locally by cocaine. The conjunctiva 

 covering the sclera is then pinched up with forceps and cut 

 through with scissors, this is continued all around the globe. 

 Then the recti muscles, the superior and inferior oblique muscles, 

 ■ the retractor and finally the optic nerve are cut through with a 

 pair of scissors curved on the flat. The divided ends of the mus- 

 cles are now sutured together around the nerve which has been 

 cut shorter, and the cavity irrigated by a cold antiseptic solu- 

 tion. Bleeding vessels may be twisted through with forceps if 

 the flow is not readily checked by cold irrigation. Or a pledget 

 of cotton dipped in tincture of muriate of iron may be loosely in- 

 serted (firm pressure would be unnecesssarily painful). As a 

 subsequent dressing, standard sulphurous acid solution, glycerine 

 and water in equal proportions, or other antiseptic dressings may 

 be applied. 



ARTIFICIAL EYE. 



These are largely in use in the human being, and have been 

 employed in the lower animals in different cases, especially in 

 the horse, with excellent effect. The advantages may be summed 

 up in this, that they do away with the unsightly appearance of 

 an empty orbit with the edges of the lids turned into the dark 

 aperture, enhance the value by restoring the face to nearly the 

 natural appearance, and prevent the lodgment of dust and insects 

 in the cavity. 



The artificial eye may be made to appear more natural if made 

 of glass, yet when made of horn or still better of hard i-ubber, 

 colored like the normal iris and pupil, it has the advantage, of 

 greater lightness. It must be perfectly smooth so as to cause no 

 discomfort, and should never be introduced so long as there is 

 any irritation in the stump or conjunctiva. It may be slipped in 

 like a button, first beneath the deeper upper lid, and then be- 

 neath the lower, and should be worn only while at work and so 

 long as it causes no irritation nor purulent discharge. On the 

 return of the animal to the stable, the artificial eye is taken out, 

 washed and placed in clean pure water. The orbit should be 

 sponged out with a weak coUyrium (boric acid i : 100). 



