The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-05-17
a WORM CUT FROM A MARES EYE.
1t Was Alive and Wriggled, and Was
Like Three-Inch silk Thread.

1t Was Alive and Wriggled, and Was
Like Three-Inch SILK Thread.
BALTIMORE, May 12.-On last Wednes-
day afternoon DIR. Thomas W. Spranklin,
of this city, assisted by Surgeon John s.
Coltam, successfully removed a living
worm or snake" from the pupil of the eye
of an old mare belonging to Mr.. Stansberry
of Patapsco Neck, in this State. The AMI
NAL, dark bay about fifteen and one-halt
hands high has been in the stable of Rice
& Marshall, on North Frederick street, for
several days, and has attracted good deal
of attention from the curious. The para
site, technically known as ttGr7d
OcuH equinUS, was three inches
long, and had the general appearance
of piece of gray silk thread. 1t had its
abiding place in the aqueous humor of the
mares left eye, and was in state OF CON
slant motion. 1t was first noticed in the
animals eva about six months ago, when IL
was so small as to be barely discernible. 1t
grew steadily until it attained its present
size. 1t was never still for moment. The
poor old mare was in constant nervous ex-
element, and wasted away until her ribs
almost protluded through her rusty coat.
Many showmen offered to buy her for ex-
hibition, but her owner would not sell.
This is the second authenticated case or
the kind in America. The other was IN
New York, and was operated on by DR..
Pomeroy, at the New York American
Veterinary College, on Fifty-fourth street,
about ten or twelve years ago. Inc animal
was chloroformed and the worm taken from
its eye, but having some heart trouble. IL
died under the operation.
DR.. Spranklin egan his operation on the
mare in the present case by securely bind
ing the animal so that she could not move,
and then laid her down on her right side.
Her left eye was treated with q solution
consisting of SO per cent rose water and
per cent. cocaine. Small quantities of this
solution were dropped into the ey at inter
walls OF rive minutes, seven or eight Tunes,
until partial anaSthesia of the corner was
obtained, and it could be touched by the
finger without pain to the animal. Then
an inciSion was made in the eye, between
the eyeball and the sc lerOtic coat, or white
of the eye. This incision was made with
sharp lance shaped like an arrow head
The incision was made at about right
angles with the eyelid and SO that
the wound would be almost wholly
covered by it when the eye was back in its
normal position. The instrument was kept
in the wound until the aqueous humor had
exuded. Then it was still retained in its
position and used as guide for pair of
very delicate spring forcGpS which were in
serted into the opening. The lance was re-
moved, and DIR. Spranklln, placing the In
dex finger of his left hand upon the oppo-
site side of the cornea. gently but steadily
pushed the parasite toward the blades of the
forceps. 1t was SO active that four or five
times it wriggied away. At last he was
able to get a firm hold upon it and draw it
out. IL was very lively and lived for sew
eral minutes, in fact, until it was placed for
preservation in alcohol.
The lips of the incision were drawn
together and closed in a flap, the aqueous
humor again flow ed into the cornea OF the
eye, and in less than three-quarters of an
hour the old mare was back in her stall.
eating as calmly and placidly rs though
such thing as a delicate surgical operation
was beyond her ken. DR.. Spranklin thinks
that, barring inflammation, the eye will
soon be as well as it ever was, both in APP
pearance and strength of sight. AS to how
the worm got intO the animals eye, he con-
lectures that its germ was taken into the
mares system through water which she
drank.