DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY. 
215 
sorting to paracentesis for the treatment of pannus, and only 
adopt it when it is actually necessary to remove intraocular 
pressure. 
(b) Ulceration of cornea is generally a sequel of suppurative 
keratitis. The varieties of corneal ulceration depend upon its 
association with other pathological lesions ; its cause, course and 
location. The immediate cause of these ulcers is usually in¬ 
fected wounds, whether accidental or surgical. Anything that 
will destroy the epithelium, opens up an avenue for infection 
which may occur at the time of the injury or later. The sup¬ 
puration may yield to treatment early, or may continue for 
weeks without showing any tendency to heal. In old animals 
or patients that are out of condition, these ulcers are more ser¬ 
ious than in young or healthy ones ; in all cases the course and 
termination depends upon the ability of the tissues to resist the 
encroachment of septic organisms. 
Treatment. —In all cases careful attention must be paid to the 
general condition of the patient; and, as it is generally an infec¬ 
tious disease, the treatment must be preventive and curative. 
All accidental wounds of the cornea must be treated as infected 
wounds. The seat of the injury or ulcer should be touched up 
with a strong solution of formalin (1:50), tincture of iodine, or 
nitrate of silver ; some veterinarians recommend actual cautery. 
When the ulcers involve much of the surface of the cornea, the in¬ 
traocular pressure sometimes causes a protrusion of the underly¬ 
ing structures (. staphyloma or keratocele ), and in such cases para¬ 
centesis is indicated. By relieving the pressure from within the 
danger of the cornea becoming ruptured is lessened. The method 
of puncturing the anterior chamber is the same as already de¬ 
scribed in the treatment of other diseases of the eye. Strict ad¬ 
herence to aseptic measures in every step is the most important 
feature of the operation. The puncture in these cases should be 
made at the superior sclero-corneal margin and within safe dis¬ 
tance from the ulcers. 
(d) Superficial Keratitis. —This disease is more common in 
young animals than in old ones. It may affect one or both 
eyes, may yield promptly to treatment, but reoccur from time to 
time and terminate in some more serious complication. 
The disease is generally accompanied by pain and pho¬ 
tophobia, which makes the patient close the eye tightly 
(blepharospasm ); this may last for weeks, which often makes it 
almost impossible to examine the eye without forcibly separat¬ 
ing the lids. The prognosis depends upon the severity of the 
