Feed liberally, regulate the bowels by mashes and green meat; smear the wound with oil of tar to dispel the flies; for should the accident happen during the warmer months, these pests biting and blowing upon so delicate a part as the eye may occasion more harm than our best efforts can rectify. When the lid is bitten through, the operation is precisely similar; the divided edges are to be brought together by sutures. To prevent needless repetition, an engraving of the bitten lid, after the operation has been performed, is here presented.
IMPEDIMENT IN THE LACHRYMAL DUCT.
The lachrymal duct in the horse is a small canal leading from the eye to the nostril; it commences by two very minute openings near the terminations of the upper and lower lids, at the inner corner of the eye; it emerges upon the dark skin which lines the commencement of the horse's nostril, being on the inner side of the internal membrane. Its use is to carry off the superflux of tears; hence, with human beings, who have a like structure, "much weeping at the theaters provokes loud blowing of noses."
The channel being so minute, any substance getting into it soon becomes swollen with the moisture and closes the passage. The tears cannot escape, and being secreted, flow upon the cheek. The perpetual stream pouring over a part not designed for such uses, causes the hair to fall off, and thus forms gutters, along which the fluid continues to run. The flesh at length excoriates, and numerous sores are established; the lids swell and become raw at the margins; the conjunctiva reddens, and the transparency of the cornea is greatly lessened by the spread of inflammation.
A HORSE'S HEAD, DISPLAYING OBSTRUCTION
OF THE LACHRYMAL GLAND.
The wretched animal in this condition presents a very sentimental appearance to a person ignorant of the facts of the case. The swollen lid, because of its weight, is permitted to close over the eye, while the tears, flowing fast upon the cheek, with the general dejection, gives the creature an aspect of weeping over some heavy affliction.
Like the late William Percivall, whose works on veterinary subjects remain a monument to his memory, the author has encountered but a single case of this description; it was in a matured but not a very aged animal. The report was, that a year ago it had been attacked by influenza; the lid then enlarged, and the near cheek had been wet ever since.
Referring to the pages of Percivall's "Hippopathology," the author procured a thin, elastic probe, about twelve inches long; the horse being cast, and an assistant holding the upper lid, the probe was introduced at the inner corner of the eye, by the lower opening to the duct; the entrance was easy enough, but the passage was soon obstructed; then the probe was inserted at the opening of the duct within the nostril. The way in this direction was longer, but the end came at last, without any good being effected. Next, a syringe being charged, the fine point was introduced up the nasal termination of the duct, the power of the jet effectually removing every impediment; the water streamed through the upper openings, and the horse was sent home cured.
The writer saw the animal six months subsequent to the operation; it was apparently in excellent health, and obviously in amended condition. The owner said the horse soon got well after it reached home; but, being pressed to say how great a duration "soon" represented, he rejoined "about six weeks, perhaps."