196 CANINE MEDICINE AND SURGERY 



metal, thorns, and other sharp objects, which pene- 

 trate the cornea, either partially or completely, are 

 more dangerous, sometimes leading to ulceration and 

 abscess formation which may cause destruction of 

 the eye. Larger bodies may so lacerate the cornea 

 as to cause evacuation of the aqueous humor and 

 collapse of the eye, or may completely disrupt the 

 whole ocular apparatus. 



The removal of substances such as eyelashes, dust, 

 small pieces of cinder, or metal lodged in the con- 

 junctival sac, is best accomplished by first of all 

 putting a drop or two of a four-per-cent cocain solu- 

 tion into the eye, to diminish sensibility, and then 

 everting the lids, locating the foreign body and 

 removing it gently with a loop of horsehair. 



Pieces of metal that have stuck onto or into 

 the cornea may be removed with fine forceps, the 

 eye spud, or with a magnet (if steel or iron). 



If the eye is destroyed, as is usually the case 

 when injured by bullets or shotgun pellets, enuclea- 

 tion should be immediately performed. 



Injuries to the eye by chemicals are not frequent, 

 but when occurring are always serious. 



Acids must be neutralized with alkali, and vice 

 versa. 



Lime is best rendered harmless by flooding the 

 sac with a saturated solution of sugar, as sugar 

 neutralizes the corrosive action of lime. The result- 

 ing irritation from any cause is to be allayed under 

 the line of treatment laid down for the varying con- 

 ditions produced. 



Entropion 



Entropion, or the turning in of either the upper 

 or lower eyelid, is a congenital condition nearly 

 always calling for surgical interference on account 

 of the great irritation produced by the eyelashes 



