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SURGICAL SKILL

In respect to inflammations of the eyes, whichsometimes rise to a very great height, attendedfrequently with a considerable purulent dis-charge ; they frequently have recourse to scari-fication by the application of a particular kindof grass, the minute spicula with which it isreplete dividing the inflamed vessels as it ismoved upon the tunica adnata. To assist inreducing ophthalmic inflammations, they alsodrop into the eye an acid vegetable juice, andsometimes another of a bitter quality ; the firstis called vi, the latter bazelo. The species ofophthalmia to which they are subject, thoughsometimes lingering, is stated scarcely ever tohave produced serious consequences, and is notconsidered contagious. Mr. Mariner neithersaw nor heard of but one man who had lost hissight by disease.

In cases of gunshot wounds, their main ob-ject is to lay the wound open, if it can be donewith safety in respect of the larger blood-vesselsand tendons, not only for the extraction of theball, if it should still remain, but for the pur-pose of converting a fistulous into an openwound, that it may thereby heal sooner andbetter: if they have to cut down near largervessels, they use bamboo in preference to theshell; the same near tendons, that there maybe less chance of injuring them. They always