DISEASES OF THE EYES. 



AFFECTIONS OF THE EYELIDS. 



Closure of the Eyelids. 



It is a well-known fact that puppies are born blind — that is 

 to say, the palpebral fissure is closed at birth. This is not a simple 

 agglutination of the eyelids, but a true adhesion of membranes. 

 This has been proven from the fact that if they are forcibly sepa- 

 rated after birth the cornea has an opaque look and the edges of 

 the eyelids bleed. As a rule, the fissure opens itself in from seven 

 to twelve days. It is very rare that we have an obstinate closure 

 of the eyelids. If this should be the case, we try to produce sep- 

 aration by means of emollients, tepid water, and normal tension 

 upon the eyelids. If these are not successful, the eyelids must be 

 separated by means of a pair of scissors; then we rub the edges of 

 the wound with vaseline, or, if they persist in uniting, with caus- 

 tics in order to prevent an adhesion. 



Entropion — Turning in of the Eyelid. 



By this term we understand a turning or wrinkling of the eyelid 

 in such a manner that the edge of the lid is directed toward the 

 eyeball, and the eyelashes come in contact with the conjunctival 

 tissues and cornea. Entropion occurs quite frequently, especially 

 in bulldogs, Newfoundlands, and setters, although it may be 

 present in all breeds. In some cases it is present at birth, or it 

 may be developed by constant convulsive closing of the fissure of 

 the eye, due to some irritating conditions of the cornea or conjunc- 

 tiva. It is occasionally caused by cicatricial contraction of the 

 conjunctiva of the lid, after injuries, caustic substances in the eyes, 

 burns, or some chronic inflammatory condition. The looser the 

 cutaneous tissue may be in the neighborhood of the eyelid, the 

 more obstinate the diseased condition is to treatment. Haltanhoff 

 considers that the tendency to entropion is hereditary. 

 (350) 



