368 DISEASES OF THE EYES. 



the eye treated twice a day with atropine. We must treat all irri- 

 tating symptoms of the eye by means of cold compresses, and some- 

 times we use purgatives. After six or eight weeks the reabsorption 

 of the lens is complete. We generally perform discission in young 



Fig. 81. ^ 



a. 



Discission of the lens ; a, form and size of the eross-incisions ; 6, method of insertion of 



the needle. 



animals affected with soft cataract. The result of this operation, 

 however, is not always satisfactory, as reabsorption is slow and in 

 many cases requires a second operation. Several months Kay also 

 elapse before the cataract is absorbed. Schlampp advises in such 

 cases puncturing the cornea, and by this means allowing the fluid 

 of the anterior chamber to escape, leaving the lens untouched. 

 Anterior displacement of the lens enlarges or ruptures the opening 

 which has been made in the capsule. Reabsorption follows, as 

 a rule, more quickly when this is performed, probably due to the 

 fact that the fluid which contains the elements of the lens has been 

 discharged and replaced by fresh fluid. The process is not danger- 

 ous, and may be repeated oftener than discission itself. 



Linear Extraction. After having prepared the dog for this 

 operation (indicated on page 367), we fix the membrana nictitans 

 by means of a pair of forceps. With another forceps we seize the 

 conjunctiva of the eyeball in the neighborhood of the median line 

 of the eyeball, at the same time everting the upper eyelid. We 

 then make an incision by means of Graefe's cataract knife (Fig. 

 80, b), about 5 mm. broad, through the cornea, about 2 or 3 mm. 

 from the border of the sclerotic membrane. We then pass a dis- 

 cission needle through the wound, split the anterior capsule, as 



