FISTULA LACHRYMALIS. 
11 
of the eye, with a constant discharge from it. It is the constant 
discharge from it that prevents the wound from healing, and, in 
some cases, the lachrymal bone is involved in the ulcerative pro¬ 
cess, and becomes carious. 
This happens so seldom in the horse, that the existence of fis¬ 
tula lachrymalis has been denied in him ; but there are cases of 
it on record, and there are few who have not seen the enlarge¬ 
ment of the sac preparatory to it; viz. the soft tumour evidently 
filled with fluid, easily pressed out, and escaping either from the 
eye or through the nose. When this has been neglected, and the 
fluid has become viscid, inflammation, and ulceration, and caries, 
have ensued. 
Our continental neighbours, who are very ingenious in devis¬ 
ing plans of treatment for various diseases, which, I believe, even 
they would find it difficult to carry into execution, have told us to 
inject some bland tepid fluid through the lower punctum, and 
thus cleanse the sac from obstruction; but I have not been told 
the means by which I shall accomplish this in spite of the power¬ 
ful action of the retractor muscle. This being ineffectual, we 
have been advised to pass a style, as in the human being, into 
the duct; but I should be puzzled how to introduce this style, 
whether through one of the puncta, or through the orbicularis 
muscle, or by making a way for it through the lachrymal bone 
into the lower part of, or below, the sac; and I should be more 
puzzled still to make my patient, who would not do as I bade 
him, keep the style in its situation a single hour, much more the 
length of time necessary to insure the pervious state of the duct. 
I believe that you must leave the case to itself, paying attention 
only to cleanliness. 
In the [dog, however, and particularly in the smaller spaniel 
with the watery eye, fistula lachrymalis is of no unusual occur¬ 
rence. You will recognise it by the small ulcer in the situation 
that I have described, with a constant, but perhaps slight, dis¬ 
charge of pus. Have nothing to do with that ulcer, for you will 
never heal it. You will gain most reputation by honestly saying 
at once, “ I can do nothing here.” There is even no palliative 
but cleanliness. 
When fistula lachrymalis occurs in the horse, it is oftenest from 
fracture of the lachrymal or superior maxillary bone ; but that 
can rarely happen in the dog, on account of the depth of muscle 
by which the parts are protected. In him, it arises from disease 
’ of the eye, or a naturally inordinate secretion of tears. 
With regard to the canalis infra-or bit ar ins, or the long canal 
conveying the anterior maxillary nerve to form the facial nerves, 
