- Email: [email protected]
Parasites in the Anterior Chamber of the Eye of the Horse
THE VETERINARY JOURNAL . AND
~nnaIs
Df
PARASITES IN THE ANTERIOR CHAMBER OF THE EYE OF THE HORSE. BY JOSHUA A. NUNN, 0 .5.0., F.R.C.V.5., VETERINARY CAPTAIN A.V.D., PRINCIPAL, LAHORE VETERINARY COLLEGE, PUNJAB.
As far as I am aware, no special directions for the performance of the operation of puncture of the cornea for the removal of filaria from the eye of the horse is given in any of the standard works on veterinary surgery. But it is generally stated that the cornea should be incised at its junction with the sclerotica, at its upper margin, and the parasite allowed to escape along with the aqueous humour. Furthermore, I have heard it stated that . the operation could be performed on the horse standing, and with an ordinary scalpel or lancet protected by a piece of tow or cork, the fingers of the hand being steadied on the eyebrow, and a black cloth or blanket spread on the ground to catch the parasite when it escaped in the gush of aqueous humour. During my early experience in India, I attempted to operate on this plan on three or four occasions, but with the most disastrous results; and, if my memory serves me aright, only in one case, when a large incision was made in the cornea, did the parasite escape in the way it is said to do. . The manner in which I now operate is, first of all, to have the eye thoroughly washed and bathed with a two per cent. solution of boracic acid; a drop or two of castor oil is then instilled between the eyelids, and the whole is covered with a pad of cotton wool and bandaged for a couple of hours before the operation is commenced. When this is to take place the horse is thrown down in the VOL. XXXVIII.
C C
394
The V den-nary Journal.
usual way, on the side opposite to the affected eye, which must be the uppermost, and chloroform is administered. A bag of sand, a truss of straw, a folded blanket, or any other suitable object, is placed under the head, so that the poll and upper part are elevated and the nose depressed. The bandage is now removed from the eye, and a spring eye-speculum is placed between the lids, so as to open them wide apart. The only other instruments required are a pair of human iris forceps and a narrow-bladed knife--the cataract knives of either Beers or Graefe answer the purpose well. The incision is made at the upper and outer margin of the cornea, care being taken that the knife is held parallel to the plane of the iris, otherwise there is danger of wounding that structure. The incision should only be just large enough to admit the forceps without difficulty. The knife is now withdrawn and the forceps carefully introduced, when the parasite is easily seized and removed from the eye. The eye is again bandaged with a pad of boracic cotton-wool, and this is not removed for three or four days after the operation is finished. By this mode of operating only a very small quantity of the aqueous humour escapes-not more than one-fourth of the total quantity-and what remains prevents collapse of the cornea, an accident certain to occur if an opening is made sufficiently large to permit the worm to escape with the gush of aqueous humour. It also renders 'hernia of the iris through the corneal wound, or adhesion of the cornea and iris, almost impossible, and the incision is so small that scarcely any cicatrix remains. Of course, the knife and forceps should be sterilized before they are used.
A CASE OF ANNULAR STRICTURE OF THE RECTUM IN THE DOG. BY HENRY GRAY, )f.R.C.V.S., KENSINGTON.
THE subject of my communication is a fox-terrier dog, aged about two years. I was consulted on March 19th of this year respecting the pain he seemed to evince when he attempted to pass his freces. The back was arched, the abdomen seemed drawn up, and he yelled out when the nozzle of the enema syringe was inserted into the rectum. I came to the conclusion that the trouble was the effects of neglected constipation, so I accordingly treated him against this complaint, and improvement in his manners and appearance was so manifest that his owner's servant took him away
~nnaIs
Df
PARASITES IN THE ANTERIOR CHAMBER OF THE EYE OF THE HORSE. BY JOSHUA A. NUNN, 0 .5.0., F.R.C.V.5., VETERINARY CAPTAIN A.V.D., PRINCIPAL, LAHORE VETERINARY COLLEGE, PUNJAB.
As far as I am aware, no special directions for the performance of the operation of puncture of the cornea for the removal of filaria from the eye of the horse is given in any of the standard works on veterinary surgery. But it is generally stated that the cornea should be incised at its junction with the sclerotica, at its upper margin, and the parasite allowed to escape along with the aqueous humour. Furthermore, I have heard it stated that . the operation could be performed on the horse standing, and with an ordinary scalpel or lancet protected by a piece of tow or cork, the fingers of the hand being steadied on the eyebrow, and a black cloth or blanket spread on the ground to catch the parasite when it escaped in the gush of aqueous humour. During my early experience in India, I attempted to operate on this plan on three or four occasions, but with the most disastrous results; and, if my memory serves me aright, only in one case, when a large incision was made in the cornea, did the parasite escape in the way it is said to do. . The manner in which I now operate is, first of all, to have the eye thoroughly washed and bathed with a two per cent. solution of boracic acid; a drop or two of castor oil is then instilled between the eyelids, and the whole is covered with a pad of cotton wool and bandaged for a couple of hours before the operation is commenced. When this is to take place the horse is thrown down in the VOL. XXXVIII.
C C
394
The V den-nary Journal.
usual way, on the side opposite to the affected eye, which must be the uppermost, and chloroform is administered. A bag of sand, a truss of straw, a folded blanket, or any other suitable object, is placed under the head, so that the poll and upper part are elevated and the nose depressed. The bandage is now removed from the eye, and a spring eye-speculum is placed between the lids, so as to open them wide apart. The only other instruments required are a pair of human iris forceps and a narrow-bladed knife--the cataract knives of either Beers or Graefe answer the purpose well. The incision is made at the upper and outer margin of the cornea, care being taken that the knife is held parallel to the plane of the iris, otherwise there is danger of wounding that structure. The incision should only be just large enough to admit the forceps without difficulty. The knife is now withdrawn and the forceps carefully introduced, when the parasite is easily seized and removed from the eye. The eye is again bandaged with a pad of boracic cotton-wool, and this is not removed for three or four days after the operation is finished. By this mode of operating only a very small quantity of the aqueous humour escapes-not more than one-fourth of the total quantity-and what remains prevents collapse of the cornea, an accident certain to occur if an opening is made sufficiently large to permit the worm to escape with the gush of aqueous humour. It also renders 'hernia of the iris through the corneal wound, or adhesion of the cornea and iris, almost impossible, and the incision is so small that scarcely any cicatrix remains. Of course, the knife and forceps should be sterilized before they are used.
A CASE OF ANNULAR STRICTURE OF THE RECTUM IN THE DOG. BY HENRY GRAY, )f.R.C.V.S., KENSINGTON.
THE subject of my communication is a fox-terrier dog, aged about two years. I was consulted on March 19th of this year respecting the pain he seemed to evince when he attempted to pass his freces. The back was arched, the abdomen seemed drawn up, and he yelled out when the nozzle of the enema syringe was inserted into the rectum. I came to the conclusion that the trouble was the effects of neglected constipation, so I accordingly treated him against this complaint, and improvement in his manners and appearance was so manifest that his owner's servant took him away