546 
DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY. 
course in all cases of ulceration depends upon the activity of 
morbid agents, and the ability of the tissues to resist their en¬ 
croachment. In very old patients and those out of condition, 
superficial ulcers are more serious than in young or healthy 
ones. 
Treatment .—The treatment in ulceration of the next rael 
surface of the eyeball should be preventive, therapeutic, and 
surgical when necessary. If these wounds are infectious, the 
patient should be isolated, and all possible care taken that the 
disease is not transmitted to other animals. The therapeutic 
treatment must be governed by the physical condition of the 
patient. The surgical treatment must meet the requirements 
necessary to encourage reparation ; such as cauterization, curet¬ 
ting, paracentesis or subconjunctival injections should be used 
when indicated. The conjunctival sac must be thoroughly 
washed and rendered aseptic if possible ; the eye must be well 
bandaged and dressings changed as often as necessary. 
VI. Burns and Corrosions. — These are injuries that sel¬ 
dom occur in domestic animals, excepting as rare accidents. 
Heat and chemicals have the same effect upon the tissues of 
the eye ; the anterior portion of the ball being the most exposed 
is the part affected ; the wounds are generally sup erficial. 
Treatment .—In the treatment of these wounds’ the first step 
to be taken is to allay pain by the application of cocaine. When 
the injury is due to caustic alkalies, the alkali may be neutral¬ 
ized oy a diluted acid, such as acetic acid ( vinegar ); if caused 
by acids, the acid must be neutralized by an alkaline solution 
made of bicarbonate of soda or bicarbonate potash. After neu¬ 
tralization, the eye must be thoroughly washed and all for¬ 
eign substances removed from it. Cold packs should be applied 
to prevent inflammation, and the tieatment subsequently re¬ 
quired is generally the same as that of other wounds of the eye¬ 
ball. Adhesions of the palpebral and ocular conjunctiva must 
be prevented by passing some smooth flat substance between 
the lid and ball at least once a day, until the danger of adhe¬ 
sion is passed. 
VII. Foreign Substances in Eyeball. —Under this head 
we will consider foreign bodies in the external coats of the eye 
and those within the eyeball. Small bodies of various substances 
are sometimes found in the ocular conjunctiva imbedded in the 
epithelium. These bodies are often very difficult to detect ; in 
the early stage their presence is marked by severe pain and 
lachrymation, which is soon followed by inflammation. These 
