832 
DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY. 
lens. All ruptures however, are not indications ; some can be 
treated and the sight restored, while others cannot. Ruptures 
without dislocation or prolapse of iris or lens are sometimes 
treated by palliative methods with good results; but, when the 
iris is ruptured, the lens dislocated and the contents of the ball 
expelled, evisceration is the proper treatment. 
5. Opacity of Cornea .—Opacities of the cornea are usually 
due to an inflammatory process which fills the interstitial spaces 
with a product that becomes organized ; the effusion may be¬ 
come connective tissue which is not transparent, and which is 
not absorbed by the lymphatics of the cornea. The most 
favorable cases of opacity generally leave streaks in the cornea. 
There are various intensities of opacity ; the lighter forms are 
known as nebulce , and the denser forms as cnkomata. When 
the cornea is only slightly disfigured, the appearance can be 
improved by tattooing with India ink ; but when the en¬ 
tire cornea is discolored, the contents of the ball may be 
removed and an artificial eye inserted. The only advan¬ 
tages gained by evisceration is in the reduction of the size of 
the eyeball, which facilitates the adjusting of a shell in pro¬ 
thesis. In opacity of the cornea, there is but little gained by 
prothesis ; in fact, we can see no advantages over tattooing, 
even when the entire cornea must be tattooed. By tattooing 
the cornea, the danger of septic infestion is much less than in 
enucleation or evisceration ; aud it must therefore be of more 
value to the veterinary practitioner than either in removing the 
unsightly appearance of opacity of the cornea. 
6. Injuries from Heat or Chemicals. —Injuries of this na¬ 
ture have already been mentioned in a previous number of the 
Review under “Enucleation.” 
When injuries of this kind destroy the coats of the eyeball, 
the injured part is exposed to infection and in such instances 
the eyeball should be eviscerated ; or, if the wound has been 
neglected and badly infected, it should be enucleated. 
Operation. —The operation must never be undertaken if 
there is any danger of sympathetic ophthalmitis. When the 
other eye is already affected or shows disturbance due to metas¬ 
tasis, the procedure must be deferred until the patient can be 
properly prepared for the ordeal. 
Instruments .—The instruments required are needles, su¬ 
tures, speculum, forceps, small, knife, scissors and curette. 
Technique. —The conjunctiva is dissected from the cornea 
from the equatorial region of the cornea in both directions. 
