32 ON THE EYE. 



the animal remained in a state of nature. Un- 

 natural confinement in hot and dark stables, the 

 constant costiveness produced by dry food, and 

 more especially a general derangement of the 

 system brought on by violent and excessive ex- 

 ertions, are undoubtedly the primary causes of 

 diseased eyes. The necessity of speedily coun- 

 teracting inflammation in the eye, must be suf- 

 ficiently manifest, when the reader is informed, 

 that a total and irrecoverable privation of sight 

 frequendy takes place in twenty-four hours. 



The local situation of the eye is so familiar 

 to every one, that it is scarcely necessary to de- 

 scribe it. It is placed sideways in the head of 

 the horse, as well as in all other animals who 

 preserve themselves from danger by flight*. 



* This position of the eye is common to liares, birds, 

 and several other animals. An instance has occurred of a 

 hare, when closely pursued by a dog, having her e3^es so 

 attentively fixed on the object behind her, as to run against 

 a tree, and to be stunned by the concussion. 



This 



