All is now explained: the sight is lost; the horse is blind. There are three terrible decisions now left to the master. Is the life to be shortened? The thought shudders at taking existence, when misery pleads for consolation. Is the animal to live on and nurture to maturity the seeds of a cancerous disease? The mind shrinks from subjecting any creature to the terrible depression and hopeless agony attendant upon such disorders. Is an operation to be performed? Shall the surgeon extirpate the eye? This last proposal seems the worst of all; nor does inquiry improve the prospect. The cancer does not entirely reside within the eye; it is not limited to that part. The taint is in the constitution, and the operation can do no more than retard its effect. The eye removed, the cancerous growth will soon fill the vacant orbit. After two or several months of dreadful suspense, the life at last will be exacted, and the animal, worn out with suffering, will expire.
Under such circumstances, the writer recommends death, before the full violence of the disease is endured. Should, however, the reader think differently, and prefer the extirpation of the eyeball, the operation will here be described. First, mind the operator has two knives not generally kept by veterinary surgeons: one of small size and slightly bent to one side; the other larger, and curved to one side till it has nearly reached a semicircle. Mind the operator has everything ready before he begin: a sharp scalpel, two straight triangular-pointed needles, each armed with strong twine; one curved needle, similarly provided; sponge, water, injecting tube, bellows, lint,—and all things at hand. It is necessary the proprietor should see to this, as some men will commence an operation upon a mere horse and be obliged to stop in the middle, not having brought all the instruments which they may require.
Cast the horse. Impale both eyelids, each with one of the straight needles, and leave the assistant to tie the thread into loops. Through these loops the assistant places the fore-finger of each hand, and then looks toward his superior. The sign being given, the man pulls the eyelid asunder, while the surgeon rapidly grasps the straight knife and describes a circle round the globe, thereby sundering the conjunctival membrane. The knife is then changed, the small curved blade being taken. The assistant again makes traction, and the knife, being passed through the divided conjunctiva, is carried round the eyeball, close to the bone; the levator and depressor muscles are detached by this movement. The assistant again relaxes his hold the operator relinquishing the knife, selects the curved needle. With this the cornea is transfixed. The thread is drawn through and is then looped. Into this loop the surgeon puts the fore-finger of his left hand, and giving the sign once more to his assistant, takes hold of the large bladed knife. Traction is made on all the loops. The curved knife is inserted into the orbit, and, with a sawing motion, is passed round the organ. The posterior structures are thereby divided, and the eye is drawn forth.
EXTIRPATION OF THE EYE.
The operation ought to be over in less time than five minutes; but speed depends on previous preparation. The assistant, during the operation, should rest his hand upon the horse's jaw and face; sad accidents by that means are prevented; but, above all things, he should be cool, doing just what is sufficient and no more.
Some hemorrhage follows the removal of the orb; to stop it, inject cold water into the empty socket; should that have no effect, drive a current of air from the bellows upon the divided parts; if this be of no avail, softly plug the cavity with lint, bandage the wound to keep in the dressing, and leave the issue to nature.
Such is the undisguised operation for extirpating the horse's eye. The reader is confidently asked, whether a few months of miserable existence, with the certainty of a fearful death, are not dearly purchased at so great a suffering?