Inconsiderable wounds of the skin may be simply stitched together with sterilized catgut. Then the intervals between the stitches may be approximated, dried, and covered with strips of sticking plaster, or with shellac, collodion or gelatine. Frick’s gelatine is made by dissolving fine gelatine in a 1 per cent. solution of corrosive sublimate and adding about 10 per cent. of glycerine, perfecting the admixture by the aid of heat. When wanted for use it may be melted by heat and applied on the skin with a camel’s hair brush. Bird lime may be used as a substitute. Sterilization must be sought by the use of sublimate lotion 1:2000, or boric acid 2:100. Formerly the edges were kept in close opposition by the use of quilled sutures, the stitches passed around the quills being inserted at the usual distances while the quills, applied against the edges of the wound kept them smooth and even and obviated puckering. Or, perhaps better, the twisted suture may be employed, the edges being brought together by pins placed close together and a silk thread carried around each in figure of 8, and spirally from pin to pin along the entire length. If one pin comes out it ought to be promptly replaced and the whole left in place until a firm adhesion is established. The points of the pins are cut off short so that there may be no risk of their pricking.
With any method the horse or ox may be turned in his stall so that his tail may be toward the manger and his face outward, and he may be tied by two halters to the two posts, right and left. His food may be furnished in a sack hung from the ceiling and cut down one side. In this way the animal may be absolutely prevented from rubbing the itching sore against any solid body, and thereby interrupting the healing process. Another method is to apply a hood of stiff material with a metallic guard for the face, having bars extending from above downward and arched outward so that they shall effectually protect the eye in any attempt at rubbing.
DEFICIENCY OF THE EYELIDS. COLOBOMA PALPEBRARUM.
The term coloboma representing merely a hiatus or deficiency is applied to different parts of the eye according as there may be a lack of substance of the part in question:—Coloboma palpebrarum (deficiency of the palpebræ or lids), C. iridis (perforation of the iris), and C. choroideæ (partial absence of the choroid).
Coloboma palpebrarum is usually congenital and takes the form of a vertical notch on the upper lid, separating its two lateral parts into independent flaps. According to the breadth and depth of the notch are the extent of the exposure of the bulbar conjunctiva and the liability to irritation and infection by foreign bodies. The same condition of things will occur traumatically and require identical measures of repair. These consist in paring the edges of the notch and bringing them accurately together with catgut, silk or quilled suture, the approximation being rendered more perfect by the application of collodion, shellac or gelatine mixture (see wounds of eyelids). The vascularity and extensibility of the tissues of the lids greatly favor a kindly healing. Rubbing of the eye must be guarded against as advised under wounds of the eyelids.
ORGANIC UNION OF THE EYELIDS. ANKYLOBLEPHARON. NARROWED FISSURE BETWEEN THE LIDS. BLEPHAROPHYMOSIS.
Complete closure of the palpebral fissure has been seen as a congenital infirmity in sheep, dogs and cats, while the partial closure has been found in all classes of animals as the result of chronic conjunctivitis and contraction of the exudation in undergoing organization. Narrowing of the fissure gives the appearance of a small eye, so that a progressive diminution is usually supposed to come from a reduction in size of the bulb, though no actual atrophy of that organ has taken place. In drooping of the upper lid (ptosis) too, the fissure is reduced and the illusion of an atrophy of the eyeball is induced. The closure of the fissure may come from blepharospasm, as the result of irritants in the eye, or even of nervous disorder.
Treatment. In case of complete closure of the palpebral fissure, the skin is picked up with forceps and an incision is made between the two tarsi into the conjunctival sac. Then with probe pointed scissors, or a grooved director and bistuory the incision is carried between the tarsi to the proper position for the internal and external canthi. During healing the lids should be frequently bathed with a boric acid solution, and an ointment of the same with vaseline should be applied to prevent adhesion.
When the trouble consists in a drawing together of the skin at the outer canthus, the result of inflammation, the adhesions are separated by a horizontal incision leading outward from the line of the angle. The edges of the conjunctiva and skin are then sutured together, so as to prevent further adhesion and the part treated as an ordinary wound. This is known as canthoplasty.
Ptosis coming from tumors on the lid, or excess of fat in its substance, or from oculo-motor disease must be treated according to indications. The same remark applies to spasm of the orbicular muscle (blepharospasm), whether clonic or tonic. In domestic animals the removal of the cause (foreign body, eyelash), will usually succeed.