DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY. 
761 
12. Hydropthalmos. 
13. Dislocation of the eye-ball. 
Instruments. Sharp-pointed bistoury, speculum, forceps* 
spatula and scissors. 
Rest 1 ciint. The animal should be placed on an operating 
table or in the lateral recumbent position by means of the side¬ 
line and anaesthetized, and the eye fixed by a forcep held by an 
assistant; this is a very movable organ and any movement at 
the time of operation would be apt to defeat its object. 
Technique .—Previous to operating, myosis is produced by 
the instillation of a solution of eserine into the eye ; this con¬ 
tracts the pupil to pinhole size, or almost so, and thus to a 
great extent lessens the danger of prolapse of the iris. Under 
no consideration should atropine or cocaine be used on the eve 
in this operation. Having produced myosis, and taken all- 
aseptic precautions, an incision is made at the corneo-sclerotic 
margin, either at its inferior or superior aspect. The superior 
is more easily exposed, but the inferior has the advantage of 
removing all putrid matter. The incision being made, the bis¬ 
toury is held in position and partly turned ; this separates the 
edges of the wound and facilitates the escape of the aqueous 
humor ; in any case this must be slow in order to avoid intraocu¬ 
lar haemorrhage from the sudden reduction of tension. The 
bistoury is now slowly removed and the edges of the wound 
allowed to come in apposition and a few drops of the eserine 
solution instilled. Should there be any tendency to prolapse 
of the iris it should be pressed back with a sterilized spatula 
and retained by a bandage and a course of eserine. Should if 
still tend to escape it becomes necessary to seize it and snip it 
off with a sharp pair of scissors, thus turning the sclerotomy 
into an iridectomy The operation is completed by stitching 
the upper and lower lids of the eye together and thus prevent¬ 
ing irritation and injury to the same. The above operation is 
termed anterior sclerotomy. A posterior sclerotomy is some¬ 
times performed for the same conditions. This is done by 
making an incision 8 or 10 mm. behind the outer margin of the 
cornea and the wound made to gape by a slight turn of the bis¬ 
toury on its axis ; this allows of the escape of the aqueous humor. 
The success following this operation, however, is not as great 
as that of the anterior sclerotomy. 
After-treatment .—This consists in keeping the eyes pro¬ 
tected, bathed with cold water daily, and the use of a mild col- 
lyrium, two or three times a day, such as the following : 
